Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Thomisidae Members: NC Records

Mecaphesa celer - Swift crab spider

Taxonomy
Order: ARANEAEInfraorder: AraneomorphaeFamily: Thomisidae                                                                                 
Comments: This species was originally described with two different specific epithets in the genus Thomisus by Walckenaer in 1837, but neither of those names was commonly used.

In 1847, Hentz described it as T. celer (Latin, meaning "swift"), and as this epithet was referenced frequently it was thus declared "protected" and has remained.

After surviving another 9 synonymous names, celer was placed in the genus Misumenops, where it remained until 2008 when Lehtinen and Marusik redefined Mesuminops, and placed celer (and some other species) in Mecaphesa.

Identification
Online Description/Photos: "The prosoma is pale green and has an off-white X marking near the fovea. There are darker submarginal bands, which can be a little darker than the coloration of the rest of the prosoma or brown. The eyes are on white tubercles. The male prosoma has a red line around the edge. Both the prosoma and opisthosoma have many erect dark spines. The opisthosoma is cream to pale yellow. There is an indistinct tan-colored heartmark, and tan stripes run down the lateral edges. Paired blotches of dark brown to black are on the posterior half of the opisthosoma; these often shift to brown or reddish brown the more posterior they are. The legs are pale green. The females lack any markings on the legs. The males have red spots where there are spines and red bands on the distal tibiae of legs I and II." (Rose, 2022) BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIFTechnical Description:

Dondale, Charles D. and James H. Redner. 1978. The insects and arachnids of Canada, Part 5. The crab spiders of Canada and Alaska, Araneae: Philodromidae and Thomisidae. Research Branch Agriculture Canada Publication 1663: 255pp.

Lehtinen, P. T. & Marusik, Y. M. (2008). A redefinition of Misumenops F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900 (Araneae, Thomisidae) and review of the New World species. Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society 14(4): 173-198.

Comments: Could be confused with Misumena vatia, but Mecaphesa has prominent spines on the dorsal prosoma and opisthosoma, which spines are lacking in Misumena.
Total Length: Females 7.1-5.0mm, males 2.5-3.5mmAdult ID: identifiable by photo
Structural photos

Small, uppermost specks on epigynum are artifacts: The larger, lower spots are visible parts of the internal spermathecae.


Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: Found nationwide and into southern Canada.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Adult phenology:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Fort Bragg, Cumberland County
Observation Methods:
Abundance/Frequency:
Behavior: Lies in wait on flowers and often seizes insect foraging insects larger than itself.
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Mecaphesa celer - Swift crab spider

Photos: 17

Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-04-06
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark BASINGER & Donald ZEPP on 2023-11-06
Nash Co.
Comment: Published size range is 5.0-6.7 mm; small size of this female is surprising, yet ID confirmed by epigynum.
Recorded by: Mark BASINGER & Donald ZEPP on 2023-10-23
Pitt Co.
Comment: Very young juvenile		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-07-27
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-07-14
Hyde Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Donald Zepp on 2023-05-10
Johnston Co.
Comment: To view this individual's epigynum, click "Structural photos" in the "Identification" section above.
Recorded by: Donald Zepp on 2023-05-10
Johnston Co.
Comment: To view this individual's left palp, click "Structural photos" in the "Identification" section above.		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2021-09-10
Iredell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2021-09-10
Iredell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2021-04-21
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Bo Sullivan on 2020-09-02
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2020-06-16
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2019-06-01
Stokes Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2017-09-09
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2015-09-26
Rockingham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: M. Cumberland on 2014-07-20
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2012-06-07
Halifax Co.
Comment: