The humped crab spider is common on the Maltese islands. It is widely distributed and can be found throughout most of Europe, except for the northern parts, and in Africa. Its range extends east as far as Siberia.

Crab spiders got their name from their habit of moving sideways like crabs and possibly also because of their enlarged front legs which resemble a crab’s claws.

Spiders of this species can be yellow, pink or white, depending on the colour of the flower on which they hunt. This is advantageous as it camouflages the spider, making it more difficult for unsuspecting prey to notice it.

In Maltese, the humped crab spider is known as brimba tal-fjuri mħattba.

This species does not build a web but hunts insects by waiting in ambush on a flower for an unsuspecting fly or bee to land within its grasp. When its prey is close enough, it uses its pair of enlarged front legs to hold it and then bites the back of its neck to kill it.

The specimens one is likely to notice on flowers are females. Males are much smaller andinconspicuous, which is of survival value.

The male has to take precautions to ensure he is not eaten before managing to copulate. This is often done by presenting the female with an insect which she would eat while he is approaching her.

The small male is ignored by the female and she allows him to climb on her back without devouring him.

The humped crab spider is one of several species of crab spider belonging to the Thomisidae family. The name crab spiders is also used for several other species of spiders from other families.

On the Maltese islands, one is also likely to meet another species of crab spider which is known in Maltese as brimba tal-fjuri, but it is not humped.

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