Crab Spiders

Need to get rid of crab spiders? Read on to learn the answers to all of your important questions. Need help? Call our professionals today to get started.

Crab Spiders

The term “crab spider” can refer to several species in the Thomisidae family of spider, but is also widely used to refer to many other families of spider as well. Members of the Thomisidae family of spider are often referred to as flower spiders or flower crab spiders. 

Crab spiders are commonly found in home gardens and landscaping. Crab spiders are considered beneficial insects because they kill and eat other insects like flies, mosquitoes, moths and several other pest species. They also feed on pollen and nectar, another reason you will typically find them living in your garden. 

What Do Crab Spiders Look Like?

Crab spiders look similar to crabs in appearance in that their two front legs are longer than their other legs and reach out in front of them. Crab spiders also resemble crabs in that they are typically flatter than other spiders and walk sideways. They are about 4 to 10 millimeters in length and are yellow, green or orange in color. They can be very bright, presenting as almost neon in any of these colors, or can come in white or brown. 

Are Crab Spiders Poisonous?

Crab spiders do not spin webs like other spiders, but instead are what are known as sit-and-wait predators, meaning that they stay completely still until they detect motion, which they are capable of doing up to 20 centimeters away. Crab spiders then capture their prey using their two front pairs of legs. Next they bite the prey while injecting venom to paralyze their victim. Though crab spiders can bite and are venomous, they are not dangerous to humans. Crab spiders’ mouthparts are too small to pierce human skin. So, yes, crab spiders are poisonous, just not in a way that is a threat to your or your family.

Crab spiders are adept hiders and do not like to be inside and are not known to infest homes. If you have found crab spiders in your home, do not hesitate to reach out to a pest care professional in your area for help with spider control.

Find A Pest Specialist For Crab Spider Control

If you are concerned about spider control for your home, please give us a call or fill out the form on this page. PestControlExperts.com is a team of experts who are highly qualified to provide the best recommendations for you and your home, no matter which part of the United States you live in.