Thomisus onustus is a crab spider in the genus Thomisus, found across Europe, North Africa and parts of the Middle East and Asia. It lives in flowers in lowland vegetation. Females are larger than males and can change color between white, yellow and pink to match the flowers they sit on, a cryptic mimicry that helps them avoid predators and capture insect prey. Males are smaller, more slender and drab, usually green or brown. The species has a distinct life cycle in which spiderlings emerge in either late summer or early spring, and it has developed a mutualistic relationship with its host plants, feeding on or deterring harmful florivores in exchange for the plant's pollen and nectar, which it uses as a food source especially when insect prey is scarce. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Scientific Name Conservation Status Comparison
CITES Appendix Connections
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Thomisus onustus (Wikipedia)
Predatory feeding
They frequently prey on insects far larger than themselves, ranging from 1.25 to 16.00mm in length.
Lead section
T. onustus reside in flowers in lowland vegetation. Females are distinguished by their larger size and ability to change color between white, yellow, and pink as a means of matching flower color.
Section: Habitat and distribution; begins "They inhabit a wide variety of flowers and herbs"
They inhabit a wide variety of flowers and herbs, usually staying at the flowering peaks.
View the Source2. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Arachnida
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 27Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 27
"cites_listing":"II/III/NC","eu_listing":"B/C/NC","higher_taxa":{"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":"Arthropoda","class":"Arachnida","order":null,"family":null},"synonyms":[],"common_names":[{"name":"Scorpions And Spiders","language":"EN"},{"name":"Araignées","language":"FR"},{"name":"Arañas","language":"ES"},{"name":"蛛形纲","language":"ZH"}],"cites_listings":[]
View the Source 3. Wikipedia: Thomisus onustus
4. GBIF (IUCN Red List category): GBIF IUCN Red List category for Thomisus onustus
GBIF (IUCN Red List category)GBIF taxon key 2166135, category fieldQuote, GBIF taxon key 2166135, category field
"category": "NOT_EVALUATED"
View the Source IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Araneae
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 82Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 82
"cites_listing":"II/III/NC","eu_listing":"B/C/NC","higher_taxa":{"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":"Arthropoda","class":"Arachnida","order":"Araneae","family":null},"synonyms":[],"common_names":[{"name":"蛛形目","language":"ZH"}],"cites_listings":[]
View the Source Wikidata: Thomisus onustus
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