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Xysticus bimaculatus L. Koch, 1867 Sub-social Crab Spider

A sub-social crab spider in medium to good-quality bushland and rainforest edges in coastal Queensland and NSW. Patterns and colours of both males and females ranging from jet black to quite pale. Many females and young live in a large, many-chambered nest in a subsocial lifestyle recently documented by Jasmin Ruch et al (ZooKeys 427: 1-19, (2014). The nests are woven with initially green leaves, twigs and other debris on the outer fringes of low shrubs and trees. The inner leaves often turn brown and more green leaves are attached on the outside. Main prey types are beetles and ants with small numbers of wasps caterpillars and flies. The most common host tree was found to be Blackwood Acacia melanoxylon. This spider species may in future be moved to Tharpyna, as no genuine Xysticus appear to live in Australia (pers. comm. Pawel Szymkowiak). ♀ 6mm ♂ 5mm

Female, Side view

Phryganoporus candidus
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male, preparing to kite


Spider > Thomisidae > Xysticus geometres
Photo: Robert Whyte

Another male, lighter coloured, from above


Xysticus geometres male
Photo: Robert Whyte

Another female from above


Xysticus geometres
Photo: Robert Whyte

Another female oblique


Xysticus geometres
Photo: Robert Whyte

A typical nest, recently started


Xysticus geometres nest
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male on leaf facing


Xysticus geometres male
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male on leaf from above


Xysticus geometres male
Photo: Robert Whyte

References


  • Ruch et al, 2014 - Re-description of Xysticus bimaculatus L. Koch, 1867 (Araneae, Thomisidae) and characterization of its subsocial lifestyle Jasmin Ruch, Torben Riehl, Peter Michalik
 

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