Running Crab Spiders
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Running Crab Spiders (family Philodromidae) one of two spider families using the crab spider name, could be considered the forgotten crab spiders.
The more colorful Thomisidae crab spiders receive more attention, and they are discussed on another page.
Both families are hunting spiders, albeit with different hunting strategies. Running crab spiders chase prey and crab spiders (flower spiders) perch and wait for prey, typically on flowers and leaves.
Less color variation in running crab spiders correlates nicely with their need for less camouflage when hunting compared to the camouflage needs of flower spiders.
The top picture shows a running crab spider in the Tibellus genus, often called slender crab spiders. The thin thorax and abdomen explains the name.
A few spider species, such as the Rabid Wolf Spider and a Nursery Web Spider, Pisaurina mira, share a similar general brown and white body color pattern. Fortunately, the picture provides a good view of the eye pattern, which matches Tibellus.
The dark bodied spider pictured in the box on the right is a male Philodromus-dispar.
Its dark body and light legs make it fairly easy to identify.
They are common European spiders, found also in the Pacific Northwest.
© 2005-2007. Patricia A. Michaels