Global InformationMisumenoides formosipes information
| Misumenoides formosipes | |
|---|---|
| |
| Female | |
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| Male | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Thomisidae |
| Genus: | Misumenoides |
| Species: | M. formosipes
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| Binomial name | |
| Misumenoides formosipes (Walckenaer, 1837)
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Misumenoides formosipes is a species of crab spiders (Thomisidae), belonging to the genus Misumenoides ("crab" or "flower" spiders). The species' unofficial common name is white banded crab spider, which refers to a white line that runs through the plane of their eyes. This species is a sit-and-wait predator that captures pollinators as they visit the inflorescences on which the spider sits. The spider has strong front legs which are used to seize prey.[1] The female spider is much larger than the male. The pattern of markings on females is variable and the overall color of the body can change between white and yellow dependent on the color of their surroundings. The color pattern for males, which does not change in their lifetime, differs from females in that the four front legs of males are darker and the abdomen is gold. The spider can be found throughout the United States.[2] Males search for sedentary females within a heterogeneous habitat and guard them until they are sexually mature to reproduce.[3][4]
- ^ Rainer F. Foelix (1996). Biology of Spiders. Oxford University Press. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-19-509594-4.
- ^ "Misumenoides formosipes". San Diego Natural History Museum. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
- ^ Leo M. Stellwag & Gary N. Dodson (2010). "Navigation by male crab spiders Misumenoides formosipes (Araneae: Thomisidae): floral cues may aid in locating potential mates". Journal of Insect Behavior. 23 (3): 226–335. doi:10.1007/s10905-010-9209-9. S2CID 37806997.
- ^ Dodson, Gary N.; Beck, Michael W. (November 1993). "Pre-copulatory guarding of penultimate females by male crab spiders, Misumenoides formosipes". Animal Behaviour. 46 (5): 951–959. doi:10.1006/anbe.1993.1276. ISSN 0003-3472. S2CID 54358641.