Mecaphesa

Picture ID 52526

Comments & ID Thoughts

Misumenoides formosipes - Whitebanded Crab Spider

Submitted by:
i-spy
Submitted: Jan 30, 2019
Photographed: Jul 1, 2018
Spider: Mecaphesa
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Spotted Outdoors: On Flower
Found in web?: No
Attributes: Dorsal

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TangledWeb

Moderator

January 30, 2019 6:07 pm

Hi, they have similar markings, but the eye arrangement is different. Yours looks like genus Mecaphesa, which has eyes facing front, back, sideways, and diagonal. That is so cool! There are at least 20 species in continental USA. My best guess from a photo is Mecaphesa celer. In college zoology classes we were taught that the directions an amimals eyes face indicate its place in the food chain. Predators have the best vision and the eyes face the direction the predator will move to chase prey. Our eyes are predator eyes, we move toward the prey. Predators generally have front-facing… Read more »

i.spy

Photo Owner

Reply to TangledWeb

January 31, 2019 10:18 pm

Thank you so much for all this information! Looking forward to the next season of stalking and wondering how many varieties may be living in my plant filled yard! I’ve a few more photos to sift through from last year too. Thanks again.

TangledWeb

Moderator

Reply to i.spy

January 31, 2019 11:14 pm

You’re welcome! I’m still working on my last year’s photos too and I look forward to camera hunting every species possible as soon as possible. We’re planning to use most of our future vacation time doing nature hikes.