Yellow Flower Crab Spider

Its amazing how distracted and attentive children can be all at the same time. On a morning walk with Eli the other day I was hyperventilating as she wobbled precariously on the edge of a precipice while pointing out a tiny yellow spider perfectly camouflaged on a yellow flower – one of many on a prolifically flowering Osteospermum moniliferum. After self-administering CPR and moving to a safer location away from the cliff, I was able to take a few photos of the spider with Eli sitting on my lap. Eli has no fear of spiders by the way – so arachnaphobia must be something we are taught in my opinion.

The spider is a yellow Flower Crab Spider (Thomisus sp) of the Thomisidae family. They do not build webs and are harmless – although their venom works fast on insects. Some species in this genus can actually change color over the course of several days to blend with the flower on which they sit. Crab spiders are common and numerous and play an important role in keeping insect numbers in check. Most important though – they are just exquisite arachnid jewels and most photogenic.