About Diaea dorsata (Fabricius, 1777)
Diaea dorsata is one of the smaller species of crab spiders, with a distribution across the Palearctic realm. Females can reach a maximum body length of 6 millimeters, while males reach a maximum of 4 millimeters. The prosoma and legs are green, and the opisthosoma is yellowish with a brown marking. This species prefers forest edge habitats, and individuals can be found on oak leaves. Subadult Diaea dorsata overwinter under the bark of dead trees, and adults emerge in May. Males of this species engage in an extended, non-damaging combat ritual: they stand opposite one another, stretch their front legs, and dance around each other, and this behavior can continue for hours. This combat ritual is highly unusual for crab spiders, but it is commonly observed in jumping spiders, for example. An agranular green pigment is incorporated into the mesocuticle of this species, and as a result, the pigment is lost between moults.
