Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Thomisidae Members: NC Records

Mecaphesa asperata - Northern crab spider

Taxonomy
Order: ARANEAEInfraorder: AraneomorphaeFamily: Thomisidae                                                                                 
Comments: This species was originally described by Walckenaer in 1837 as Thomisus asperatus (Latin, meaning "rough"). During the 19th Century, it was placed in the genera Misumena, Misumessus and Misumenops (subsequently remaining in the third of those genera throughout the 20th Century). In 2008 Lehtinen and Marusik redefined Mesuminops, and placed asperata (and some other species) in Mecaphesa.
Species Comment: A large, white-marked V bordering the heart mark on the anterior opisthosoma and numerous small dots on the legs help to differentiate this species for M. celer.
Identification
Online Description/Photos: "The prosoma is yellow to tan and occasionally looks pale green, with a pair of broad brown lines on either side of the midline. There are numerous spines on the surface, giving it a somewhat hairy appearance. The opisthosoma is yellow, with red to brown spots. A V-shaped marking in pale white to yellow starts at the anterior and opens toward the posterior. The legs are pale yellow and have lots of small dark spots. The legs are unbanded in the female, while the males have dark red rings at each joint. The legs are proportionally much longer in the males than the females." (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.

Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: 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: old field, bog
Observation Methods:
Abundance/Frequency:
Behavior: Lies in wait on flowers and ambushes insect foragers, often larger than itself.
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
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 Photo Gallery for Mecaphesa asperata - Northern crab spider

73 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-10-18
Macon Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-10-06
Macon Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-05
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-09-23
Gaston Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-09-20
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-09-20
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-09-05
Henderson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp on 2024-08-23
Edgecombe Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-04
Mitchell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-03
Mitchell Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-06-26
Henderson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp on 2024-05-31
Johnston Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-31
Wayne Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-20
Anson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-20
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-18
Catawba Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-18
Davie Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-13
McDowell Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp on 2024-04-18
Lenoir Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-04-15
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-31
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-31
Lee Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp on 2024-03-14
Harnett Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-08
Columbus Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-07
Duplin Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-07
Pender Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-02-10
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-12-26
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-11-24
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-11-13
Wilson Co.
Comment: