Slender Crab Spiders

Tibellus

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Philodromidae
Genus: Tibellus

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Tibellus: /tɪˈbɛl.əs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Tibellus oblongus crawling in grass by Józsi a termtudmester. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Tibellus oblongus Bytom by Adrian Tync. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Tibellus oblongus qtl3 by Quartl. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Tibellus oblongus qtl1 by Quartl. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Ruhland, Grenzstr. 3, Wiesen-Margerite, Blüte mit Gewöhnliche Laufspinne, Spätfrühling, 01 by Wilhelm Zimmerling PAR. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Tibellus oblongus qtl4 by Quartl. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Summary

Tibellus is a genus of slender crab spiders known for their active hunting behavior and distinctive abdominal markings. There are 7 species in North America, with variations in physical characteristics which assist in identification.

Physical Characteristics

Varies among species; some have paired black spots on the back third of the abdomen, while others do not. Some species display pairs of longitudinal stripes on either side of the main mid stripe.

Identification Tips

Look for the presence or absence of paired black spots on the abdomen and the presence of longitudinal lateral stripes for species identification.

Habitat

Grassy habitats.

Distribution

North America north of Mexico; specific species ranges include Alaska to Newfoundland, southern California, and east to Utah and New England.

Diet

Small insects, which are hunted actively.

Predators

Larger spiders, such as wolf spiders (e.g., Hogna baltimoriana).

Ecosystem Role

Predator of small insects.