Search Results - Field Guide

Showing 1 - 10 of 25 results
Photo of a nursery web spider on a plant
Nursery Web Spiders
Pisaurina spp.
Nursery web spiders build silken tents in plants to protect their egg sacs, then stand guard until the hatchlings are ready to disperse. Large and velvety, nursery web spiders have long legs and variable color patterns.
Photo of a green crab spider on a leaf
Green Crab Spider
Misumessus oblongus (formerly Misumenops oblonga)
The green crab spider has spines, and the entire body and legs are pale green to silvery white. Like other crab spiders, its legs extend outward from the sides, and it can walk in any direction.
Photo of a Xysticus crab spider, tan individual
Ground Crab Spiders
Xysticus spp.
Missouri has several species of ground crab spiders in the genus Xysticus. They are usually dull gray or brown with brown, white, or yellow markings. They typically live under bark or on the ground in leaf litter.
Photo of a whitebanded crab spider, yellow individual, on ox-eye daisy flower
Whitebanded Crab Spider
Misumenoides formosipes
The whitebanded crab spider is a small, whitish-yellow or yellowish-brown crab spider commonly found in flower heads. Often its carapace is slightly greenish, with a broad whitish-yellow midband bordered by darker, thinner sides of yellowish brown.
Photo of wolf spider with young
Wolf Spiders
Nearly 250 species in North America north of Mexico
A wolf spider doesn't spin webs to catch its prey — it runs it down like a wolf! Spiders in this family have long legs and are usually gray, brown, black, or tan with dark brown or black body markings (especially stripes).
Photo of a dotted wolf spider
Dotted Wolf Spider
Rabidosa punctulata
The dotted wolf spider has a solid brown stripe running down the middle of the abdomen, seen from above. Like other wolf spiders, females have strong maternal instincts, carrying their spiderlings around on their back until they can be on their own.
Photo of a swift crab spider, female, from above.
Foliage Flower Spiders
Mecaphesa spp. and Misumessus spp.
Foliage flower spiders are two genera of crab spiders. They are generally smaller than other crab spiders, and their carapaces, abdomens, and legs are spiny.
Photo of a northern crab spider
Northern Crab Spider
Mecaphesa asperata
The northern crab spider has many spiny hairs covering the top surfaces of the carapace, abdomen, and legs, and it has usually has greenish-yellow or yellow-brown markings.
Photo of wolf spider with young
Rabid Wolf Spider
Rabidosa rabida
The rabid wolf spider, despite its scary name, is harmless to people and is absolutely not rabid. It commonly hides in leaf litter and sometimes gets into houses.
Image of a speckled wolf spider
Speckled Wolf Spider
Tigrosa aspersa
A speckled wolf spider usually seems larger than it actually is. It's one of Missouri's more common species of wolf spiders. Mothers have remarkable maternal instincts and are often seen carrying their young around on their abdomen.