Hawaiian Happy-face Spider vs Salt Flat Tiger Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Hawaiian Happy-face Spider Salt Flat Tiger Beetle
Scientific Name Theridion grallator Eunota togata
Order Araneae Coleoptera
Family Theridiidae Cicindelidae
Size 5 mm body length 10-13 mm
Habitat Forests Ponds & Lakes
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Hawaii Western North America
Conservation Endangered Least Concern

Hawaiian Happy-face Spider

A tiny Hawaiian spider with markings on its abdomen that resemble a smiling face. It is endemic to the rainforests of four Hawaiian islands.

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Did You Know?

The smiley-face pattern is thought to confuse predators by disrupting recognition of the spider shape.

Salt Flat Tiger Beetle

A pale whitish tiger beetle adapted to saline environments in western North America. Its light coloring provides camouflage on salt-encrusted soils.

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Did You Know?

It is one of few insects that thrives in hypersaline environments where few predators can follow.