Misumenops rubrodecoratus

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Red-back Crab Spider
Misumenops rubrodecoratus 304674086 549274255.jpg
female
Misumenops rubrodecoratus 306205416 552179449.jpg
male
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Thomisidae
Genus: Misumenops
Species:
M. rubrodecoratus
Binomial name
Misumenops rubrodecoratus
Millot, 1942 [1]

Misumenops rubrodecoratus is a species of spider in the family Thomisidae. [2] It is endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa and is commonly known as the red-back crab spider. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Misumenops rubrodecoratus is found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. [2]

In South Africa, the species occurs in all nine provinces. [3] Notable locations include Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area, Kruger National Park, Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Addo Elephant National Park, and numerous other protected areas across the country. [3]

Habitat and ecology

Misumenops rubrodecoratus inhabits grass, shrubs, flowers and trees across multiple biomes including Forest, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, Nama Karoo, Grassland, Thicket and Savanna. The species occurs at altitudes ranging from 6 to 2,020 m. [3]

This is by far the most common thomisid species recorded from South Africa. [3] Adults have been collected throughout the year except during winter months. The species is frequently encountered on crops including avocado, citrus, cotton, kenaf, lucerne, macadamia, maize, pecans, pine plantations, pistachio, pumpkin, sugar cane, sunflower, strawberries and tomatoes. [3]

Description

Conservation

Misumenops rubrodecoratus is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. [3] The species is protected in more than 35 protected areas. [3]

Taxonomy

Misumenops rubrodecoratus was originally described by Jacques Millot in 1942 from Guinea. [1] It was revised by Dippenaar-Schoeman in 1983. [4]

References

  1. 1 2 Millot, J. (1942). "Les araignées de l'Afrique Occidentale Français: Thomisidae". Mémoires de l'Académie des Sciences de l'Institut de France. 65 (1): 1–82.
  2. 1 2 "Misumenops rubrodecoratus Millot, 1942". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2020). The Thomisidae of South Africa. Part 1 A-Mo. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 51. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7513274. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
  4. ↑ Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S. (1983). "The spider genera Misumena, Misumenops, Runcinia and Thomisus (Araneae: Thomisidae) of southern Africa". Entomology Memoir, Department of Agriculture Republic of South Africa. 55: 1–66.
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