Bassaniana utahensis
female, dead, dorsal view |
male, dead, dorsal view |
female genitalia; epigynum |
male genitalia; palp, lateral view |
male genitalia; palp, ventral view |
grape size comparison with adult spiders; male (left), female (right) |
Current valid name
Bassaniana utahensis (Gertsch) (family Thomisidae)
Recognition and diagnostic features
Crab-like in appearance with front two pairs of legs much longer than hind two pair, carapace flattened in lateral view for entire length.
Related or similar species
Xysticus locuples, Xysticus californicus
Spider
Body lengths when mature: male: 4.6 - 6.0 mm, female: 6.3 - 8.0 mm
Immatures resemble miniature adults.
Egg sac
No egg or egg sac information is available for this species
Distribution
In California: much of the state
Elsewhere: throughout North America
Native to North America
This species has not been transported or become established outside of its range.
Biology
Found under bark, stones, natural debris like leaf-litter; will rarely be found in grape clusters. Males collected May through October, females collected year-round.
Status in table grapes
Level of Incidence: uncommon
Level of Concern in New Zealand: WPNZ (May 2010) nr, BORIC (Dec 2011) nr (not listed), MAF-BPRA (2002) nr (coding definition)
Level of Concern in Australia: WPAU (2006) nr (coding definition)
Level of Medical importance: none
Common name
None for species, crab spiders for family
Taxonomic history
Recently transferred to Bassaniana from Coriarachne, by which it was known for many decades.
Commonly encountered synonyms
Coriarachne utahensis
Selected references
Dondale, C. D., and J. H. Redner. 1978. The insects and arachnids of Canada, part 5: The crab spiders of Canada and Alaska (Araneae: Philodromidae and Thomisidae). Agriculture Canada, Ottawa.
Schick, R. X. 1965. The crab spiders of California (Araneida, Thomisidae). Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 129: 1-180.