Spiders of the Xysticus genus, also called ground crab spiders are a rather indistinct species. As all crab spiders, they look similar to crabs. The brownish coloring, along with the splotchy pattern is optimal for blending in with its natural habitat than to stand out. Depending on the species of the ground crab spider, the color may be more beige or darker brown. The “deadly ground crab spider” is an all orange-colored spider.
Xysticus Size
The Xysticus genus contains some one of the smallest Crab Spiders. The Ground Crab Spider pictured above is approximately only 3/16” (5 mm) across, including the legs. Typically, Xysticus spiders don’t grow larger than 0.4 inch (10 mm).
Bites
The bite of a Crab Spider will not have any negative, dangerous impacts for humans. Ground crab spiders are non-aggressive and will run away if they face any danger. They will only attack of the feel the need to defend themselves.
Xysticus Scientific Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Chelicerata
- Class: Arachnida
- Order: Araneae
- Infraorder: Araneomorphae
- Family: Tomisidae
- Genus: Xysticus
Distribution of Xysticus crab spiders in the USA
Various species of Xysticus crab spiders can be found throughout 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
Found in Bluffton SC. Spider is smaller than a dime.
Hi Kim, thanks for getting in touch. This is some type of ground crab spider (Xysticus sp.). They are not medically significant: https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-ground-crab-spider/
Hi I found this spider in my sink and its about the size of a nickel. Im currently living in northern Texas. I’ve looked through all of Google images and still can’t figure out what species this is🤔
Hello Alexis, this is some type of ground crab spider, most likely of the genus Xysticus:
https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-ground-crab-spider/
Given your location, it could be Xysticus texanus. Here is an image of a similar spider:
https://bugguide.net/node/view/837833
Howdy!
Just moved to Grand Rapids in Michigan. Got out of the car and saw a pale ash-gray spider about 2 cm long; pretty unremarkable looking, but for what seemed to be a perfectly round abdomen, the size of a pea or slightly larger. Crawling fairly rapidly, near the house, on a warm day. Didn’t have a chance to take a picture. Any identification possible from this? Thanks In advance.
Mark Joseph
Felt this crawling on my hand in my bed. Thought it may be a brown recluse. Doesn’t exactly match the pictures I’ve seen though. I’m in the Dallas, Texas area.
Hello Kyle, this is definitely not a brown recluse. This is a ground crab spider of the genus Xysticus: https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-ground-crab-spider/
Inside, sitting on the bathroom door trim, southeastern South Dakota, overall size of about a quarter, slightly larger maybe. Picture is zoomed in slightly. Sort of has the crab shape.
Hi Tyler, I can’t really make out enough details to give a 100% confident ID but I am fairly certain that tis is a ground crab spider in the genus Xysticus: https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-ground-crab-spider/
Found inside, in Middle Tennessee. Very small. Size can be seen in relation to the tan carpet below. It seemed to scuttle like a crab or a large tick.
Hello Amber, this is indeed a crab spider – a ground crab spider in the genus Xysticus: https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-ground-crab-spider/
Encontré esto al costado de la cocina y me levantaba las patas delanteras como para pelear la verdad no tengo ni idea de que es y soy fe argentina
I found this spider on my shirt after walking through a web outside. The web was from the stair rail for the deck to the house. I’m near Richmond, VA. Any thoughts on what this could be?
Hello Jw123, this is a ground crab spider in the genus Xysticus: https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-ground-crab-spider/
Found this little thing laying flat. Thought it was dead at first but it then moved. Between 1/8th inch and 1/4 inch in size
Hello Jay, this is a ground crab spider (Xysticus sp.): https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-ground-crab-spider/
Any idea what this one is? Located in South Carolina
Hello Sharon, this is some type of ground crab spider (Xysticus sp.): https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-ground-crab-spider/
Found living in a dried up okra pod in College Station Texas. Two front legs are much longer than back legs and it holds them up and out (like a crawfish) in a “fight me” pose. Okra seed is also in picture for size comparison. Underside and back two sets of legs are paler in comparison to rest of body.
Hello Amanda, this is definitely a harmless crab spider in the family Thomisidae. Most likely some type of ground crab spider in the genus Xysticus: https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-ground-crab-spider/
Light brown with darker patch on back
Hi Tammy, this is a ground crab spider in the family Thomisidae. It’s possibly in the genus Xysticus: https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-ground-crab-spider/
Found on kitchen floor in Michigan.
Hi Shannon, this is a ground crab spider, most likely in the genus Xysticus: https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-ground-crab-spider/
Found this spider on my driveway. Haven’t seen one like it before. Please let me know what it is. Thanks!
Hi Shannon, this is a ground crab spider, most likely in the genus Xysticus: https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-ground-crab-spider/
Found this spider in a potted lilac in dayton, nevada. Not sure if it’s a true spider. Either it has 4 pairs of legs and the first set and last set are Itty bitty, or it only has 6 legs and those first two are part of its mouth. It did threat display when I went to take a picture. I’ve been watching it walk around in the pot and it tends to keep its but pointed upwards.
Hello Emma, this is a ground crab spider of the genus Xysticus: https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-ground-crab-spider/
I live in PA and have been seeing one of these around the house every once and a while and wanted to see if I should be concerned or not. Would love to know what is. Thanks!
Noticed this outside on my deck in Comstock Park MI it is quite small
Richard, did you find out if it’s a ground crab? I just found two of these (identical to your photo) in my bathroom. Oregon.
Hi Brook and RIchard, both of these spiders are Xysticus sp. ground crab spiders. An identification on species level is not possible without examining under a microscope – but given your locations in the U.S., I would assume that these two spiders are of different species.
Was cleaning under furniture and this fellow hitched a ride out my hand. Some variety of ground crab spider maybe? Striking color combination, never seen it before.
Hi Jean, yes, this is some type of crab spider. Possibly a ground crab spider of the genus Xysticus or a relative Thomisid spider.
What is this?
This is a ground crab spider of the family Thomisidae. Possibly in the genus Xysticus or Bassaniana:
https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-ground-crab-spider/
These bloody xysticus ground crab spiders are being transported by immigrants who don’t fumigate their belongings before moving into multi-unit dwellings. Along with the Cockroaches they bring in, these immigrants also transport these horrible species in that often take several winters to eradicate (as they are not capable of surviving Canadian winters well). The pest-control expert who just inspected our building three days ago indicated a migrant from Afghanistan region had one of the worst infestation of bugs in their unit he’d ever seen and that it had fouled several of the other units in the building as well . . . he called Health and Human Services and reported this but not before these bugs began to use the buildings plumbing to migrate to other tenants units. To say this is a disruption is an understatement and these immigrants who chose to hide this spider and cockroach infestation until it dramatically affected other tentants are going to be evicted rightfully and immediately.
I located this spider in a rock wall, in my yard in North Salt Lake Utah. Varying shades of gray, with no detectable hair. It seemed to have a pear shaped, or teardrop shaped body. Variegated legs With striping that ran from the body to the end of its legs.
Hi Meg, this spider has the perfect camouflage 🙂
This is a crab spider (family Thomisidae). Most likely a ground crab spider of the genus Xysticus: https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-ground-crab-spider/
This was found hiking within 20 miles of Laramie Wyoming. Am working on a book of landscapes with flora and insects (arachnids) encountered as well. Would appreciate an ID.
thanks,
Bruce
Hi Bruce, this is a ground crab spider of the genus Xysticus: https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-ground-crab-spider/
Found this on a toy my dog was playing with outside. Only good photo is with it upside down.
Hi Patrick, this is some type of crab spider of the family Thomisidae. Probably of the genus Xysticus: https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-funestus-deadly-ground-crab-spider/
Found crawling in my hair after being outside. Roughly size of a quarter. Located in southern Kentucky. Thank you.
Hi Christina, this is a crab spider of the family Thomisidae. They are not medically significant. I can’t make a positive ID of the genus off the image alone but it could be of the genus Xysticus: https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-ground-crab-spider/
Central texas, about the size of a penny
Hi Shannon, this is a crab spider of the family Thomisidae. They are not medically significant. I can’t make a positive ID of the genus off the image alone but it could be of the genus Xysticus: https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-ground-crab-spider/
Hi, this little spider is most likely a female because it had babies nearby. Found in a basket of strawberries from a local farmer.
Linda and Ron from Escondido Ca.
Hi Ron, this is a ground crab spider of the genus Xysticus: https://usaspiders.com/xysticus-ground-crab-spider/
Found this in the bathroom. Google lens thought it resembles a crab spider. Never seen one like this through my scouting years. I’m in kcmo
found in my sink
Dallas Texas area.
I have found this and several similar in the lower level of our townhouse in the Colorado mountains. I found this after clearing out some small webs in the corners. Is this a crab spider? and should I be worried about infestation?
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