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Handbook of Nature-Study 



LESSON CXV 

 THE WHITE CRAB-SPIDER 



Leading thought i. The white crab spider has markings upon its 

 body of the same color as the flower in which it rests and is thus enabled 

 to hide in ambush out of the sight of its victims the insects which come 

 to the flower for nectar. 



Method Ask the children to bring one of these spiders to school in the 

 flower in which it was found; note how inconspicuous it is, and arouse an 

 interest in the different colors which these spiders assume in different 

 flowers. 



Observations i. What is the shape of the body of the crab-spider? 

 Which of the legs are the longest? Are these legs directed forward or 

 backward ? 



2. How is the body marked? What colors do you find upon it? 

 Are the colors the same in the spiders found in the trilliums, as those in 

 other flowers? Why is this? Do you think that the color of the spider 

 keeps it from being seen ? 



3. Place the white spider which you may find in a trillium in a 

 daffodil, and note if the color changes. 



4. Do the crab-spiders make webs? How do they trap their prey? 



Crab-spiders on golden-rod. 



This species is white when lurking in the white trillium and 

 yellow when among flowers of the golden-rod. 



Photo by Slingerland. 



