For the Reporter

Auburn’s Marc Poblete recently took a photo of a female Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena Vatia).

According to Spiders.us, these spiders change “their body color from yellow to white, or vice versa, depending on the flower they are perched on. They do this by transferring a liquid pigmented material to the cuticle.”

Changing from one color to another is not instant, and the process takes about 20 days to complete.

These spiders are commonly found on all types of flowers, herbs, or shrubs in any garden. They can even be found in pastures and similar places. Flowers such as milkweed, where these spiders are known to lay and guard their eggs, and goldenrod flowers are natural places one can find them.