Ambush-predators
Guides
Brachypsectridae
Texas beetles
Brachypsectridae is a small family of beetles in the superfamily Elateroidea, commonly known as Texas beetles. The family contains two extant genera—Brachypsectra (cosmopolitan in arid regions) and Asiopsectra (Central Asia and Middle East)—plus several fossil genera from Cretaceous amber. Adults are small, soft-bodied beetles lacking the functional prothoracic clicking mechanism typical of related elateroids. Larvae are highly distinctive ambush predators with flattened bodies and feathery lateral lobes.
Philodromidae
Running Crab Spiders, Philodromid Crab Spiders
Philodromidae is a family of araneomorph spiders comprising over 530 species across 31 genera. Members are commonly called running crab spiders or philodromid crab spiders due to their crab-like appearance and sideways-oriented legs. Unlike true crab spiders (Thomisidae), philodromids do not construct webs for prey capture but instead hunt by ambush. They are primarily associated with vegetation, where they occur on stems, leaves, and tree trunks.