Northern Crab Spider
Mecaphesa asperata
This record describes Mecaphesa asperata (species). Recorded family: Thomisidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Dorsum of abdomen off-white with two pairs of longitudinal red bands or rows of spots, sometimes with lateral red band anteriad (Dondale & Rednder, 1978b) --- a capped V, with the point of the V at the end of the somewhat angular abdomen (Wikipedia, accessed 09-Jan-2011); legs yellowish or off-white, banded distally red or brown; femora spotted. Palp Epigynum
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Thomisidae (Crab Spiders)
- Genus
- Mecaphesa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
New Mexico to Florida, northward to British Columbia, Quebec, and Massachusetts. (Dondale & Redner, 1978b)
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Mecaphesa asperata. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
As of 2023, 51,673 spider species in 136 families have been recorded, though an estimated 150,000 species exist. Spiders rank 7th in total species diversity among all organism orders. Only 0.5% of spider species pose any risk to human health.
Ecological role of the group
Spider venom contains complex peptides with diverse pharmacological activities, making them valuable for drug development research. Spiders produce up to 7 types of silk from specialized glands. Spider silk genes have been inserted into mammals and plants for biotech applications.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The global spider community kills an estimated 400-800 million tons of prey annually (2017 study). Spiders provide billions of dollars in natural pest control for agriculture. Spider silk is 5× stronger than steel of the same diameter, driving a biomaterials research industry.
Recorded sources for this group: World Spider Catalog, PNAS, Nature, ScienceDirect. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Northern Crab Spider (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Kevin Pfeiffer; Additional contributions by cheins
Frequently Asked Questions About Northern Crab Spider
What is Northern Crab Spider?
Northern Crab Spider (Mecaphesa asperata) is a species in the family Thomisidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Northern Crab Spider?
Male: total length approx. 3.3 mm; female generally smaller than M. vatia : approx. 5.5 mm. (Dondale & Redner, 1978b)
How do you identify Northern Crab Spider?
Dorsum of abdomen off-white with two pairs of longitudinal red bands or rows of spots, sometimes with lateral red band anteriad (Dondale & Rednder, 1978b) --- a capped V, with the point of the V at the end of the somewhat angular abdomen (Wikipedia, accessed 09-Jan-2011); legs yellowish or off-white, banded distally red or brown; femora spotted. Palp Epigynum
Where is Northern Crab Spider found?
Range: New Mexico to Florida, northward to British Columbia, Quebec, and Massachusetts. (Dondale & Redner, 1978b)