Thomisidae Thomisus

Thomisus callidus (Thorell, 1890)

Callidus White Crab Spider

The name "callidus" means "beautiful" in Greek, and "crafty" or "cunning" in Latin. Such impressions may come to mind while observing a predominantly white female, well camouflaged, as it sits in ambush ready to pounce on a bee on the petals of a white flowers. While the carapace of the female is almost always palely translucent, the abdomen may vary from completely white to having a variety of spots or lines with colours ranging from yellow to black, especially around the "shoulders" or abdominal tubercles. The facial pattern may also vary, usually being an intermediate between those of Thomisus sp. A and T. guangxicus. A prominent dark brown line often connects both arms of the ocular horns. The translucent legs may be entirely pale, or have coloured bands on the femora, patellae and tibiae. The female copulatory organ is a characteristic V-shaped structure visible to the naked eye.