Crab Spider
Flat-bodied spiders that sit motionless on flowers, often changing colour to match the petal. They ambush visiting insects including flies, beetles, and small bees.
Why you want them
Crab spiders are specialists at ambush predation on flowers. They can gradually change their body colour between white and yellow to match the flower they sit on, becoming effectively invisible to prey. While they do catch some beneficial insects like small bees, they primarily target flies, beetles, and whitefly - and their overall contribution to garden predator diversity is positive. Their presence on flowers indicates a healthy and diverse invertebrate garden.
Helps control
How to attract them
- Diverse flower planting
- Yellow and white flowers
- Open, accessible flower heads
Preferred habitat
On flowers and flat leaf surfaces throughout the growing season. They do not spin webs and move slowly from flower to flower. They overwinter under bark and in plant debris.
What harms them
Pesticide use and loss of flower diversity.
Things to know
Crab spiders occasionally catch small bees. This is natural behaviour and is not grounds for concern - it is part of a balanced garden ecosystem. Their overall ecological contribution is beneficial.
Garden, by Willowbottom works with nature, not against it. Support your garden allies and they will do most of the hard work for you.