Diaea
Thorell, 1869
Flower Spiders
Diaea is a of crab ( Thomisidae) first described by Thorell in 1869. The genus contains 46 as of September 2025, most with restricted distributions except for D. livens (United States) and D. dorsata (Palearctic). range 4–7 mm in body length and are strongly associated with vegetation, particularly flowers, where their green, , or coloration provides .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Diaea: /ˈdaɪ.iə/
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Identification
Distinguished from other crab by the combination of: rows of nearly equal length; closer to each other than to ; on ; and small size (4–7 mm) with green, , or coloration. The rounded female and oval male abdomen provide useful for identification. Beating and sweeping vegetation is the standard sampling method for .
Images
Appearance
Small crab with body lengths of 4–7 mm. is , , or green, sometimes darker around the , with smooth bearing simple isolated and long prominent setae; moderately convex above. positioned on . Both eye rows and nearly equal in length; closer to each other than to lateral eyes. round in females, oval in males, matching carapace coloration with darker spots or markings. Legs thin, slender, same color as carapace, sometimes banded. Males more slender than females with proportionally longer legs.
Habitat
Vegetation-dwelling found on trees, shrubs, and grasses. Strongly associated with flowers where color-matching is employed. Most commonly detected through beating and sweeping of vegetation.
Distribution
Most have restricted geographic ranges. D. livens occurs in the United States; D. dorsata has a Palearctic distribution. GBIF records indicate presence in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Behavior
Hides in and around vegetation, especially flowers, using coloration to blend with surroundings. Detected primarily through beating and sweeping vegetation rather than visual encounter surveys.
Ecological Role
Ambush in vegetation , likely contributing to flower-visiting through .
Similar Taxa
- MisumenaBoth are flower-dwelling crab with color-changing abilities; Misumena are generally larger and have different arrangement proportions.
- ThomisusShares flower-dwelling habit and cryptic coloration; Thomisus typically have more flattened body profiles and different abdominal shapes.
More Details
Sampling methodology
This is very commonly sampled through beating and sweeping vegetation, indicating it is not readily observed through passive searching.
Species diversity
As of September 2025, the includes 46 , indicating substantial diversity despite the small number of widespread species.