Glenford Canning

Misumena vatia feed on common insects, often consuming prey much larger than themselves. They use venom to immobilize their prey, though they are harmless to humans.

For Misumena vatia, survival depends on the choice of hunting site. The spiders closely monitor multiple sites to see if others nearby are frequented by greater numbers of potential prey.

The primary sex ratio is biased toward females. Females are stationary and choose a flower to settle on, while males cover great distances searching for mates. Females do not emit pheromones; rather, they leave “draglines” of silk behind them as they move, which males follow.

Females live longer than males, on average. After mating, females guard their nests until the young have hatched, after which they die.