Xysticus
Guides
Xysticus apachecus
Xysticus apachecus is a species of crab spider in the family Thomisidae, first described by Gertsch in 1933. Like other members of the genus Xysticus, it is a ground-dwelling ambush predator characterized by its crab-like leg posture and sideways movement. The species is known from the United States, though specific details about its ecology and behavior remain limited in the published literature.
Xysticus californicus
Xysticus californicus is a species of crab spider in the family Thomisidae, first described by Keyserling in 1880. The species occurs in the United States and Mexico. As a member of the genus Xysticus, it belongs to a group of spiders commonly known as ground crab spiders, which are characterized by their ambush hunting strategy and crab-like leg posture.
Xysticus canadensis
Canada ground crab spider
Xysticus canadensis is a species of ground crab spider in the family Thomisidae, first described by Gertsch in 1934. It is distributed across northern North America and extends into Russia. As a member of the genus Xysticus, it exhibits the characteristic ambush-hunting behavior and flattened body form typical of ground crab spiders. The species overwinters as an adult or immature, emerging in early spring to hunt and reproduce.
Xysticus ellipticus
Xysticus ellipticus is a crab spider in the family Thomisidae, described in 1965. It occurs in the United States and Canada, with confirmed records from Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. As a ground crab spider, it employs ambush hunting tactics typical of the genus.
Xysticus gosiutus
Xysticus gosiutus is a species of crab spider in the family Thomisidae, first described by Gertsch in 1933. As a member of the genus Xysticus, it belongs to a group of ground-dwelling ambush predators commonly known as ground crab spiders. The species is recorded from the United States and Canada, with specific distribution records from Alberta and British Columbia. Like other Xysticus species, it is likely an ambush hunter that relies on camouflage and rapid leg extension to capture prey.
Xysticus gulosus
Xysticus gulosus is a species of crab spider in the family Thomisidae, described by Keyserling in 1880. It belongs to the genus Xysticus, a diverse group of ground-dwelling ambush predators commonly known as ground crab spiders. The species is distributed across North America, with confirmed records from the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Like other members of its genus, it likely employs a sit-and-wait hunting strategy, using its enlarged front legs to capture prey.
Xysticus locuples
Xysticus locuples is a species of crab spider in the family Thomisidae, first described by Keyserling in 1880. It is distributed across North America, with records from Canada and the United States including Alberta. As a member of the genus Xysticus, it belongs to a group of ground-dwelling ambush predators commonly known as ground crab spiders. The genus Xysticus is known for species that employ ballooning as a primary dispersal mechanism, particularly in spring and fall.
Xysticus luctuosus
Xysticus luctuosus is a species of ground crab spider in the family Thomisidae, first described by Blackwall in 1836. It has a broad distribution spanning North America, Europe, Turkey, the Caucasus, Russia (from European to Far East regions), Kazakhstan, Iran, and Central Asia. As a member of the genus Xysticus, it exhibits the characteristic crab spider body plan with laterally extended legs adapted for ambush predation. The species has been documented in 45 iNaturalist observations, indicating moderate citizen science engagement.
Xysticus robinsoni
Xysticus robinsoni is a species of ground crab spider in the family Thomisidae, first described by Willis J. Gertsch in 1953. The species belongs to a genus of ambush predators characterized by their crab-like posture and enlarged front legs used to seize prey. Like other Xysticus species, it is likely a sit-and-wait predator that does not construct webs for prey capture. The species occurs in the United States and Mexico, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented.