Identifying Crab Spider Infestations

Crab spiders prefer your garden or grassy areas like urban parks more than indoor environments, with the exception of greenhouses. In greenhouses and gardens, crab spiders can be problematic to workers who may experience the discomfort of itchy, stinging bites. Because crab spiders can blend in with their environments, they may not be easy to spot on flowers and foliage. In greenhouses in Hawaii, workers have reported feeling the silk of a spider crab and then finding itchy bites on their arms and necks. Because crab spiders do not spin webs, there is no clear visual sign that one is nearby.

Threats of Crab Spider Infestations

Crab spiders, unlike some of the more social pests, such as ants, bees and wasps do not build colonies or nests. Crab spiders are lone hunters who will patiently wait for their prey to cross their path before jumping out and paralyzing their prey with their neuro-toxic venom in order to feast on their prey.