Mecaphesa quercina
(Schick, 1965)
oak crab spider
Mecaphesa quercina, commonly known as the oak crab , is a of crab spider in the Thomisidae. The species was described by Schick in 1965. It is known from the United States, though specific details about its and remain limited in published sources. As a member of the crab spider family, it likely exhibits the characteristic ambush typical of Thomisidae.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Mecaphesa quercina: //mɛkəˈfiːsə kwɜːrˈsaɪnə//
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Distribution
United States. Specific state-level distribution records are not well documented in available sources.
Host Associations
- Quercus - associated with oak (Quercus) based on epithet, though specific interactions are not documentedThe specific epithet 'quercina' suggests an association with oak, but this has not been verified in published literature
Similar Taxa
- Mecaphesa asperataBoth are North American Mecaphesa ; M. asperata is better documented and has been observed hunting on flowers, suggesting potential ecological overlap
- Mecaphesa schlingeriAnother western North American Mecaphesa ; both share the characteristics of cryptic coloration and ambush on vegetation
More Details
Taxonomic note
The was originally described by Schick in 1965. The Mecaphesa was established to accommodate several North American crab species previously placed in other genera. The specific epithet 'quercina' (meaning 'of oak') suggests a possible association with oak trees or oak-dominated , though this has not been explicitly confirmed in field studies.
Data limitations
Available sources provide minimal biological information for this . Most online databases and taxonomic resources list only the basic taxonomic placement and geographic distribution. Field observations and detailed ecological studies appear to be lacking in the accessible literature.