#thomisus

[ljsbugblog]

the marigolds are in full flower, which has attracted a myriad pollinators and their predators, like this small crab spider.

Unknown Flower Crab Spider (genus Thomisus).

[razehider]

this is the same Thomisus onustus i posted about before. i checked on her often, and eventually came back to her looking significantly less plump, and protecting a big egg sac. it's not a common find by any means, so i was pretty pleased, but then something even more interesting started to happen.

she became paler and paler over time. i had seen something like this only a few weeks earlier, but this time, instead of mimicking the brown dead flower, she was turning white: mimicking her own egg sac. it blew my mind when i initially realized what was happening. the flower thing was weird enough, but for her to change color to match a completely different surface, one she had created herself, was really unique. the plant itself turned grey eventually, but she was way ahead of it

unfortunately, she died mysteriously, missing a leg and with a severely shriveled abdomen but otherwise undamaged, still standing on the egg sac she dedicated the last few weeks of her life to. the flower itself was blown away by the wind and rain soon after, and i don't know if the eggs ever got to hatch. if i find any T. onustus around this spot next year, i'll certainly remember her

(June 21st, 2024 for the first two photos, then June 22nd, June 25th, July 3rd, July 10th, and finally July 18th for the last two photos)

[herpsandbirds]

Pink Crab Spider, Thomisus onustus, family Thomisidae, Dorset, England

photograph by David Hamilton

[onenicebugperday]

@lostinthebluebox submitted: More South African bugs from Cape Town, this time the teeniest tiny little pink spider I found in my garden a few years ago. Google tells me it's a Thomisus, or garden crab spider, and can change colour from yellow to pink depending on the flower they're on.

I went digging in my photo files to share it because I'm sure this blog will give it their deserved appreciation.

What a beautiful woman! Yes, she looks like Thomisus to me, and they can indeed change colors! Pretty neat trick.

Here's a link to photos of all kinds of them in various colors if anyone wants to admire :)

[colorsoutofearth]

Crab Spider (Thomisus onustus)

Photo by Paul Harcourt Davies

[vainaspaver]

The yellow queen / La reina amarilla by Pedro Sánchez ( limicolero )

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Sébastien Malo, crab spider (Thomisus onustus)

2023 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition

[fellowshipofthenoodles]

Juniper got gifted a flower crab spider today as an early birthday present (their birthday is next month) and they're so tiny and cute, even with their little monobrow 🤭

[ID: the first picture shows a small pale yellow crab spider on the edge of a fake yellow rose petal, the spider blends in very well on the petal. The second picture shows the acrylic enclosure they've been put into that has one blush pink and one yellow fake rose in there and some twigs, the spider isn't in the enclosure in this picture]

[ayanos-pl]

西洋朝顔にいたアズチグモ♀。仮面の忍者 赤影のようなマスクをつけている（8月17日）

spider (Thomisus labefactus)

pająk

[dailycreatures]

Creature 53

Thomisus onustus

Thomisus onustus is a crab spider (meaning unlike most spiders they can walk sideways), native to Europe, North Africa, Middle East and Asia. Females of the species can change color from white, yellow and pink as a means of camouflage. They have a symbiotic relationship with the flowers they reside in, where the spider will deter (or sometimes eat) creatures that threaten the flower, and in return the flower gives the spider a home. Oddly enough, the spider will eat the flower pollen during times of low prey abundance. 

fact source: Wikipedia

image source: reddit

[ljsbugblog]

little guy!!

Spectacular Crab Spider, male(?) (Thomisus spectabilis).

[razehider]

a crab spider (Thomisus onustus) with her prey, a tachinid fly of some sort. these are one of several local crab spider species that hang out on flowers, changing their color as necessary to blend in, and probably my favorite as they are the largest by far. the fly itself was also massive and would've been a cool find on its own, but i probably wouldn't have been able to get a good shot if she wasn't holding it still for me

here she is the day after, presumably sated. i've seen a few T. onustus this spring but i'm especially fond of this one despite her hating my guts. this was not the only eventful meeting we had (she is still alive as of this post, these pics are about a month old), but that's a story for another time

[herpsandbirds]

Crab Spider, Thomisus onustus, family Thomisidae, Dorset, UK

photograph by Jamie Thorpe

[onenicebugperday]

Pink crab spider aka heather crab spider, Thomisus onustus, Thomisidae

Found throughout Europe and into Asia and northern Africa

Photos 1-2 by macronocturno, 3-4 by alexis_orion, 5-6 by mammal, 7 by blaupfeilda, 8 by dmtrsav, and 9 by iyptala

[urtopia]

thomisus onustus

[chaoticace2005]

I'm so glad and happy you enjoy my little ideas 👉👈

I didn't know that Angel was based on a jumping spider! But if you wanted more info on the specific spider I was talking about it was a Pink Crab Spider (Thomisus onustus). The ones I encountered were more white with pink markings because, based on my research, they can camouflage with the flowers they're hiding in, and mint flowers are more white.

Being a Spider-man fan honestly gives me so many ideas for spider stuff to inflict to Angel lmao people love to make more spider-like Peter Parker.

I really love your writing! Can't wait for your fic :3

-🐇

Oooh that’s really interesting!!! I’m pulling up images now and they’re super fun looking! Definitely reminds me of Angel. Also the camouflage thing is interesting when you consider how Angel tries to adopt a mask to survive around him. I’m definitely gonna keep this and mind and do more research! Thanks so much for the info!

Love your little ideas and always excited to read them :)