Species: Running Crab Spider - unnamed 1 (Philodromus dispar)
Family: Running Crab Spiders (PHILODROMIDAE)
Category: Arachnids
Location: Widespread
A. Arachnids
More extensive information on arachnids can be found in a separate blog post.
B. Running Crab Spiders (PHILODROMIDAE)
Running Crab Spiders are small spiders (usually no longer than 10 millimetres) that do not build webs. To catch their prey, they instead run them down. The family contains perhaps 600 different species. They are usually dull-coloured or mottled. A distinctive feature of this family of spiders is that their second legs are often longer than their other legs.
C. Running Crab Spider - unnamed 1 (Philodromus dispar)
Philodromus dispar is found in the southern half of Britain in broad-leaved woodland, gardens and parks. This individual was no longer than 5mm. True to its family name, it was spotted making a dash across the surface of a headstone.
Images
Running Crab Spider - unnamed 1
Philodromus dispar is found in the southern half of Britain in broad-leaved woodland, gardens and parks. This individual is a female, males being nearly black above and pale underneath.
Running Crab Spider - unnamed 1
Philodromus dispar is a fast mover, using speed rather than a web to attack prey. While photographing the hoverfly in this photograph the moment after it had landed, this tiny spider was seen making a rapid dash towards what it perhaps had thought was something small enough to tackle. As it drew close enough to the edge of the headstone, to see the hoverfly's looming bulk, it changed tack and ran back down the headstone to where it had started. All this, in an instant. In the insect world, things happen quickly!
