Zeitschrift für Ökosystem und Ökologie

Abstrakt

Opportunistic Attempt of Mating in Crab Spiders

Shouliang Huo

Flower crab spiders (Thomisus sp.) have a crab-like habitus hence known as “Crab spider”. It’s first two leg pairs are long and robust. Cephalothorax is truncated with anterior lateral corners strongly and conically protuberant. These tubercles bear the natural eyes. Eyes are small and the abdomen is pentagonal. These spiders hide themselves in plants or flowers to ambush attack on prey visiting the flowers for nectar. On 2nd November 2020 by 01:34 afternoon, I observed the female crab spider (Thomisus sp.) captured the Chestnut Bob butterfly (Lambrix salsala) may be while it was trying to feed on nectar of Jamaican spike flowers at Butterfly garden in the Nature information center of Sanjay Gandhi National park, Borivali East. The crab spider (Thomisus sp.) Completely fed on its prey and the next day 3rd November 2020 the spider was still on the same plant and the prey’s remains was fallen down, And the small brown colored male crab spider was seen on female’s back in urge of mating.