Spiders and other Arachnids

Crab spider - Thomisidae: Tmarus angulatus (Iowa, USA). Crab spiders are distinguished in part from other spider families by their exceptionally long and powerful first two pairs of legs, which they use to seize prey that can exceed their own size.

Running crab spider (Philodromidae: genus Philodromus), found inside my screen door (Iowa, USA). The name of this spider family comes from the Greek "philodromos," meaning "lover of the race," and they earn it - these spiders are built for speed!

Crab spider in my backyard, Tmarus angulatus (Iowa, USA).

Bark crab spider, genus Bassaniana, at my porch light (Iowa, USA).

A young wolf spider, family Lycosidae, stalks the forest floor at night. (Iowa, USA)

Bark crab spider, genus Bassaniana, up close (Iowa, USA).

A crab spider (Thomisidae: genus Mecaphesa) from Iowa.

Unidentified spiderling from Iowa, USA.

Trashline Orbweaver, Cyclosa turbinata (Iowa, USA). These clever spiders get their name from their habit of adorning their webs with bits of unfinished prey items and other debris.These web decorations (known as stabilimenta) provide very effective camouflage, and may even lure additional victims to the web.

Spotted Orb Weaver, Neoscona crucifera (Iowa, USA).

A crab spider (Thomisidae: genus Mecaphesa), subdues a much larger cluster fly (Calliphoridae: genus Pollenia) on Queen Anne's Lace, Daucus carota, in Iowa.

Young crab spider (Thomisidae) from Wisconsin, USA.

A young crab spider seeks refuge under a thistle's spines in Wisconsin.

A running crab spider (Philodromidae: Thanatus formicinus) dashes across the ground in search of prey on the banks of Little Bass Lake in Wisconsin. Unlike most spiders, which rely on webs to capture prey, running crab spiders are active hunters - and very fast ones at that.

Freshly-hatched spiderlings, possibly Dolomedes, by the shoreline of Little Bass Lake in Wisconsin.

Fishing Spider, genus Dolomedes. As their name implies, these large spiders inhabit mainly aquatic habitats and feed on other water-dwelling insects. They have even been witnessed eating small fish! This specimen, D. scriptus, was found around the perimeter of Little Bass Lake in northern Wisconsin.

Jumping spider (Salticidae: Tutelina elegans) from Iowa.

Mesh Web Weaver - family Dictynidae, probably genus Dictyna) from Iowa.

Freshly-hatched spiderlings from Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Golden Orb-weaver, genus Nephila, from Chiang Mai, Thailand.

A mature male tarantula stalks the jungle floor at night in Belize.

Jumping spider, genus Lyssomanes, from Belize.

Nursery web weaver, Pisauridae, from Belize.

Jumping spider, genus Lyssomanes, from Belize.

Belizean Cinnamon Tarantula, Crassicrus lamanai (Belize).

Ant-mimicking jumping spider, family Salticidae, from Belize.

A nursery web spider, family Pisauridae, guards her egg sac under a protective sheet of silk in Belize.

Pinktoe tarantula, Avicularia avicularia.

Young pinktoe tarantula, Avicularia versicolor.

Greenbottle Blue spiderling, Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens.

Chilean Flame Tarantula, genus Euathlus.

Chilean Rosehair tarantula, Grammostola porteri.

A sneaky Cobweb Spider (Theridiidae: genus Enoplognatha) lies in wait around the perimeter of a cluster of Anapahlis margaritacea blossoms in Wisconsin.

Harvestman, family Sclerosomatidae, and parasitic mite, possibly genus Leptus. (Iowa, USA)

Fiery-colored Spotted Orbweaver (Araneidae: genus Neoscona) from Wisconsin.

Spiny orbweaver (Araneidae: genus Micrathena) from Costa Rica.

A charming and expressive male jumping spider, family Salticidae, from Monteverde, Costa Rica.

Long-jawed orb weaver (Tetragnathidae: possibly Tetragnatha sp.) from Monteverde, Costa Rica.

Lynx spider (Oxyopidae) with fly prey in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Most lynx spiders don't rely on webs to catch prey, but instead prefer to ambush pollinators much like a crab spider.

Up close and personal with a wall crab spider (Selenopidae: Selenops sp.) in Costa Rica.

A very pretty Dwarf Spider (Linyphiidae: Erigoninae) from Iowa.

One of the most striking lynx spiders I've ever seen. (Oxyopidae: Hamadruas sp., from Chiang Mai, Thailand)

A pair of cobweb spiders (Theridiidae: Phylloneta sp.) from Monteverde, Costa Rica. The enlarged pads on the end of the male's pedipalps (right) are called palpal bulbs, and are used to transfer sperm to the female (left) during copulation.

Long-jawed orb weaver (Tetragnathidae: Opadometa sp.) from Koh Chang Island, Thailand.

Six-spotted Fishing Spider (Dolomedes triton), named for the son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. (Iowa, USA)

A female jumping spider (Salticidae: genus Thiodina) attacking a four-lined plant bug (Poecilocapsus lineatus).

Crab spider (Thomisidae) from Iowa.

Ant-mimicking spider from Cambodia. The extent of their mimicry is remarkable: The front pair of legs are raised in front of the body like antennae (which spiders lack), which also tricks the viewer into believing it has six legs instead of eight. Additionally, the cephalothorax is oddly shaped to give the appearance of three body segments, although spiders only have two. Mimicking ants confers several benefits; many predators find ants distasteful, and are fooled into avoiding what would be (presumably) a tasty spider snack. This appearance also helps them remain inconspicuous if they hunt among the ants they imitate.