Wild Guide: Ground Crab Spiders

Wild Guide: Ground Crab Spiders

Xysticus spp.

Aptly named, crab spiders generally resemble their namesake crabs. Their legs extend outward from the sides, and they can walk in any direction. There are several species of crab spiders in the genus Xysticus in Missouri. Larger than flower crab spiders, they are usually dull gray and brown and have brown, rusty, tan, white, or yellow markings, especially on the abdomen, and they often have a midstripe on top of the head. The first pair of legs are large and powerful and covered with many tiny spines.