Mecaphesa

Simon, 1900

crab spiders

Species Guides

Mecaphesa asperata(Northern Crab Spider)
Mecaphesa californica
Mecaphesa carletonica(northeastern flower crab spider)
Mecaphesa celer(swift crab spider)
Mecaphesa coloradensis(Colorado Mecaphesa)
Mecaphesa deserti
Mecaphesa dubia
Mecaphesa gabrielensis
Mecaphesa importuna

Mecaphesa is a of crab spiders in the Thomisidae, first described by Eugène Simon in 1900. The genus contains approximately 49 distributed across North America, Central America, the Caribbean, South America, and Hawaii. Species exhibit cryptic coloration for ambush on flowers.

Mecaphesa by (c) Yoatzin Peñaflor, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Yoatzin Peñaflor. Used under a CC-BY license.

Mecaphesa asperata by (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Mecaphesa: //mɛkəˈfiːsə//

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

Images

Habitat

occupy diverse including mesic forests, riparian corridors, dry-mesic upland deciduous forests, dolomite glades, and lava flow matrices. Specific habitat associations vary by species; for example, Mecaphesa celer inhabits isolated vegetated patches within barren lava matrices at Craters of the Moon, Idaho.

Distribution

North America, Central America, the Caribbean, South America, and Hawaii. Individual show restricted ranges: Mecaphesa asperata occurs from North America through the Caribbean; multiple species are to Hawaii including M. anguliventris, M. arida, M. baltea, M. cavata, M. cincta (type species), M. discreta, M. edita, M. facunda, M. hiatus, M. imbricata, M. insulana, M. juncta, M. kanakana, M. naevigera, M. nigrofrenata, M. oreades, M. perkinsi, M. rufithorax, M. semispinosa, and M. velata.

Diet

Ambush that capture and other insects visiting flowers. Mecaphesa asperata has been observed hunting on blossoms of Spiranthes magnicamporum (orchid) and Rhus aromatica (fragrant sumac). Mecaphesa schlingeri preys on herbivores associated with Madia elegans (tarweed).

Behavior

Ambush from flowers using to avoid detection by prey. Mecaphesa schlingeri can navigate sticky plant surfaces of tarweed to access trapped insect carrion and live prey. appears extensive in at least some ; Mecaphesa celer shows genetic panmixia across fragmented lava flow , indicating substantial despite geographic isolation.

Ecological Role

of flower-visiting insects. Contribute to indirect plant defense by reducing herbivore damage; presence on Madia elegans associated with decreased bud damage by Heliothodes diminutiva caterpillars and increased plant .