 |
Running Crab Spiders - Family Philodromidae 96 species in 5 genera in America north of Mexico. The majority of the species are in the large genus Philodromus. Class Arachnida (Arachnids) / Order Araneae (Spiders) / Suborder Opisthothelae / Infraorder Araneomorphae (True Spiders) / Ecribellate Spiders / Family Philodromidae. Live adult spiders photographed near Chicago, Illinois, USA. |
|
|
|
Spiders in the family Philodromidae are commonly known as running crab spiders, after their speed and the fact they run sideways, like their seafood counterparts. One distinguishing characteristic of the running crab spiders is their legs: unlike crab spiders in the family Thomisidae, the Philodromids' second set of legs are the longest. These spiders are often found indoors, living in the corners of ceilings and walls. However, these spiders do not build webs - the cobwebs in the picture below are the product of another spider, the cobweb spider Steatoda. Running crab spiders hunt prey as do jumping spiders and do not rely on webs to capture food. |
This tiny (5mm) running crab was out-and-about hunting in an oak forest
one early summer day.
These spiders can move very quickly and are adept at hiding.
Philodromus sp.
Philodromus, possibly praelustris. This indoor spider has
some sort of hitchhiker on its abdomen
References
|