Wild Florida Photo - Mecaphesa sp.

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Mecaphesa sp.

FLOWER SPIDER

CRAB SPIDER

Synonym: Misumenops sp.

Florida native

These are called flower spiders because instead of spinning a web, they sit and wait for insects to come to the flower where the spider catches them. Also often called crab spiders for their shape.
Members of the Mecaphesa genus (previously Misumenops) can be differentiated from several similar genera by having hairs on the body and legs. Also, of the two rows of four eyes, only the center two eyes of the second row are easily seen, giving the appearance of having six eyes. See the bugguide.net (link at left) for more identification tips on this family.
I was unable to identify the species of this spider. Some of the photos here show a spider on horsemint or spotted beebalm and a few other photos show a spider on rayless sunflower.

Mecaphesa sp. is a member of the Thomisidae - Crab spiders family.

A Field Guide to the Tiger Beetles of the United States and Canada

David L. Pearson; C. Barry Knisley; Daniel P. Duran; Charles J. Kazilek
Identification, Natural History, and Distribution of the Cicindelinae

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More than 2600 species of tiger beetles are found all over the world. In North America there are 116 species of tiger beetle, divided into 153 geographically distinct races. Detailed studies of their natural history, population dynamics, communities, patterns of worldwide species richness, and taxonomy of particular subgroups have produced much information. Tiger beetles are among the most widely investigated groups of insects, especially in terms of their ecology and geographic distribution.The first edition of A Field Guide to the Tiger Beetles of the United States and Canada, published in 2005, has served as a field and natural-history guide to all known species of tiger beetles found in North America above the Mexican border. The 2nd edition is a pleasant and comprehensible handbook of the identification, distribution, natural history, and habitat details of the 116 species of tiger beetles in North America. The updated handbook provides new information including observations of seasonality, range extensions and biology, a newly developed list of common names, and twenty-five artistically pleasing identification color plates. The second edition of A Field Guide to the Tiger Beetles of the United States and Canada provides essential information to recognize and easily identify tiger beetles for established naturalists and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

For more information on this species, visit the following link:
Bugguide.net info page for this genus

Date record last modified:
Dec 19, 2017