Thomisidae


Thomisidae

 

or crab spiders (Russian name, bokokhody— sidewalkers), a family of Arthropoda, of the order Araneida. The crab spider is up to 10 mm long. The body is more or less compact, the legs are long and go to the sides. Like crabs, the Thomisidae run sideways well, from which comes the name bokokhod. These spiders do not build webs but attack their prey, lying in wait for it. There are more than 1,600 species. In the USSR there are more than 110 species. The spider Misumena vatia, often found on flowering plants, varies in color; the white ones stay on white flowers and the yellowish ones on yellow flowers.