Overwintering-adult
Guides
Xysticus funestus
mournful ground crab spider, sad ground crab spider, deadly ground crab spider
Xysticus funestus is a ground crab spider in the family Thomisidae, native to North America. It is one of many ambush-hunting crab spiders that rely on elongated front legs to capture prey. The species has been documented in field observations as an adult in early spring and has been recorded as prey for the spider wasp Dipogon calipterus. Despite its alarming common name "deadly ground crab spider," it poses no medical threat to humans.
Thomisidaeground-crab-spiderambush-predatorNorth-Americaballooningspider-wasp-preynon-medical-bite-riskspring-activityoverwintering-adultgravid-female-March-observationColoradoWisconsinDipogon-calipterus-prey-recordconcrete-path-habitatmailbox-post-observationforest-edgeleaf-litter-overwinteringmisleading-common-nameKeyserling-1880Zicrona caerulea
Blue Shieldbug, blue shield bug
Zicrona caerulea is a small predatory shield bug in the family Pentatomidae, subfamily Asopinae. Adults measure 5–8 mm and display a striking uniform metallic blue-green coloration, with immatures showing red abdomens with black markings. This univoltine species is a documented predator of leaf beetles (Altica spp.), beetle larvae, and moth caterpillars, though it has also been observed feeding on plants. It overwinters as an adult and produces new adults from July onwards.