Even though Xysticus funestus has a dangerously-sounding common name, the deadly ground crab spider, it is of absolutely no concern for humans or pet animals. It is an orange colored crab spider that usually hunts for small insects on the forest soil. It can be found throughout North America.
Running crab spider description
The deadly ground crab spider is an orange spider with curved legs, giving it a crab-like appearance. Its abdomen and legs often have dark orange bumps. Another characteristic to identify crab spiders is the fact that their second pair of legs is larger than the third and fourth pair.
Size
As most Xysticus spiders, the ground crab spider is a small spider. Females can reach a size of 0.4 inches (10 mm) of body length while males are only half their size.
Web
As other crab spiders, the deadly ground crab spider is a hunter spider. It does not spin a web to catch prey. They mostly hunt on forest grounds, preferably in leaf litters. Especially in autumn, their body coloring is the perfect camouflage between orange colored leaf to hunt for small insects.
Bites
Despite its ferocious name, the deadly ground crab spider is harmless for humans. With its small fangs, it is mostly even impossible for them to pierce through humans skin. Furthermore, these crab spiders are shy and most likely to take off when they see any human approaching. In the rare cases where a bite occurs, it might at worst cause some pain and local swelling.
Xysticus funestus scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Chelicerata
- Class: Arachnida
- Order: Araneae
- Infraorder: Araneomorphae
- Family: Thomisidae
- Genus: Xysticus
- Species: Xysticus funestus
Common names
Deadly ground crab spider or ground crab spider.
Distribution of the deadly ground crab spider in the USA
The ground crab spider can be found almost everywhere in the United States: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
This was found outside on a basketball goal in SC. I’m thinking it’s some sort of crab spider?
Hello Lynn, thanks for uploading this great shot! Yes, this is definitely some type of crab spider (Thomisiidae). Most likely of the genus Xysticus.
This spider is in my flowers. I live in wyoming
Same?
: )
Hello Per, thanks for getting in touch! This is not a crab spider but some type of orb weaver. Most likely, a shamrock spider (Araneus trifolium): https://usaspiders.com/araneus-trifolium-shamrock-spider/
I found this cool looking spider outside of my door! I couldn’t for the life of me figure it out until I googled Missouri spiders. I’m a spood hobbyist so I’m pretty embarrassed to say I could identify it. Glad I came across this site!
I found a deadly ground crab spider on the quilt I am quilting this morning. Picked it off with a Kleenex and smashed it. Thanks for this identification tool.
What kind of spider is this?
Hello Evelyn, this is a deadly ground crab spider (Xysticus funestus) – don’t worry, despite its name, this is a harmless spider. Here is more information: https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-funestus-deadly-ground-crab-spider/