Gardeners in Kamloops spot unique, colour-changing spiders

Warm weather brings out unique insects and spiders in the Thompson-Okanagan region, and some of them have extraordinary talents. Goldenrod crab spiders are found throughout the province but it might be hard to spot one. The little spiders have an interesting ability to change colours to blend into the flowers they perch on. “I was just out on another walk with my daughter and she spotted another one,” said Kamloops resident Chelsea Sharpe. “It might actually be the same one that has changed colour, but we always see them on these pink flowers when we are out walking on our property. They’re really cool spiders.” Instead of making webs to catch prey, goldenrod crab spiders wait on flowers to attack bugs, according to Spider Identifications https://spideridentifications.com/goldenrod-crab-spider.html . The diet and environment impact the spider’s colour which can vary from yellow to pale green to white. Over the course of a few days the spiders can change colour to better match the flower they're sitting on.  READ MORE: Why we really need you to sign up to our newsletter https://infotel.ca/newsitem/jonesie-how-canadian-news-became-victims-in-its-own-story/it105120 “I guess I don’t really know much about them other than they really like the arnica flowers,” said Kamloops gardener Crystal Roman who provided iNFOnews.ca with photos. “I’m sure I have a picture of a white one somewhere.” The spiders help control insect populations and help pollinate flowers and do not pose a threat to humans. They can be found all over North America on flowers, shrubs and leaves in grasslands and meadows, city gardens and wetlands. If you snap a photo of an interesting insect, send it to news@infonews.ca mailto:news@infonews.ca . To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie mailto:sainslie@infonews.ca  or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .