​​At the ARC-PPRI Spider Centre we undertake systematic research on the spider family Thomisidae. The thomisids, also known as crabspiders, are commonly found on plants where they excel as ambushers. Their gait is sideways or crab-like, hence their common name. Although they have weak fangs they secrete potent venom that enables them to attack prey 2-3 times their own size. They are very commonly found on crops and play an important role as natural enemy of various pest species in agro-ecosystems.

​Avelis hystriculus Simon, 1895
Borboropactus australis (Lawrence, 1937)
Borboropactus silvicolus (Lawrence, 1938)
Camaricus cimex (Karsch, 1878)
Camaricus hastifer (Percheron, 1833)
Camaricus mimus (Pavesi, 1895)
Camaricus nigrotesselatus Simon, 1895
Camaricus marmoratus Pocock, 1900
Cynathea bicolor Simon, 1895
Diaea audouini (Roewer, 1951)
Diaea puncta Karsch, 1884
Diaea viridipes Strand, 1909
Firmicus abnormis (Lessert, 1923)
Firmicus abnormis (Lessert, 1923)
Firmicus bragantinum (Brito Capelo, 1866)
Heriaeus crassispinus Lawrence, 1942
Heriaeus fimbriatus Lawrence, 1942
Heriaeus transvaalicus Simon, 1895
Hewittia gracilis Lessert, 1928
Holopelus albibarbis Simon, 1895
Misumena tuckeri Lessert, 1919
Misumenops rubrodecorata Millot, 1941
Monaeses austrinus Simon, 1910
Monaeses fuscus Dippenaar-Schoeman, 1984
Monaeses gibbus Dippenaar-Schoeman, 1984
Monaeses griseus Pavesi, 1897
Monaeses paradoxus (Lucas, 1846)
Monaesus pustulosus Pavesi, 1895
Monaeses quadrituberculatus Lawrence, 1927
Oxtate argenteooculata (Simon, 1886)
Oxytate concolor (Caporiacco, 1947)
Pactates compactus Lawrence, 1949
Pactates obesus Simon, 1895
Pactates trimaculatus Simon, 1895
Parabomis anabensis Lawrence, 1928
Paramystaria lata Lawrence, 1927
Paramystaria variabilis Lessert, 1919
Parasmodix quadrituberculatus Jézéquel, 1966
Pherecydes carinae Dippenaar-Schoeman, 1980
Pherecydes ionae Dippenaar-Schoeman, 1980
Pherecydes lucinae Dippenaar-Schoeman, 1980
Pherecydes nicolaasi Dippenaar-Schoeman, 1980
Pherecydes tuberculatus Cambridge, 1883
Pherecydes zebra Lawrence, 1927
Phrynarachne rugosa (Latreille 1804)
Platythomisus deserticola Lawrence, 1936
Platythomisus heraldicus Karsch, 1878
Platythomisus jubbi Lawrence, 1968
Platythomisus sibayius Lawrence, 1968
Runcinia affinis Simon, 1897b
Runcinia aethiops (Simon, 1901)
Runcinia carae Dippenaar-Schoeman, 1983
Runcinia depressa Simon, 1906
Runcinia erythrina Jézéquel, 1964
Runcinia flavida Simon, 1881
Runcinia johnstoni Lessert, 1919
Runcinia lateralis Koch, 1938
Runcinia tropica Simon, 1907		​Smodicinus coroniger Simon, 1895
Sylligma hirsuta Simon, 1895
Synema audouini Roewer, 1951
Synema decens (Karsch, 1878)
Synema fuelleborni Dahl, 1907
Synema globosum (Fabricius, 1775)
Synema flexuosa Umhlali?
Synema hirtipes Dahl, 1907
Synema imitator (Pavesi, 1883)
Synema langheldi Lawrence, 1946
Synema lentiginosum Simon, 1886
Synema marlothi Dahl, 1907
Synema riflense Strand, 1909
Synema tibiale Dahl, 1907
Synema nigrotibiale Lessert
Synema vallottoni Lessert, 1923
Thomisops bullatus Simon, 1895
Thomisops granulatus Dippenaar-Schoeman, 1989
Thomisops lesserti Millot, 1941
Thomisops melanopes Dippenaar-Schoeman, 1989
Thomisops pupa Karsch, 1879
Thomisops senegalensis Millot, 1941
Thomisops sulcatus Simon, 1895
Thomisus australis Comellini, 1957
Thomisus blandus Karsch, 1880
Thomisus citrinellus Simon, 1886
Thomisus congoensis Comellini, 1957
Thomisus dalmasi De Lessert, 1919
Thomisus daradioides Simon, 1890
Thomisus granulatus Karsch, 1880
Thomisus kalaharinus Lawrence, 1936
Thomisus machadoi Comellini, 1959
Thomisus natalensis Lawrence, 1942
Thomisus schultzei Simon, 1910
Thomisus scrupeus Simon, 1886
Thomisus spiculosus Pocock, 1901
Thomisus stenningi Pocock, 1900
Thomisus zuluensis Lawrence, 1942
Tmarus guineensis Millot, 1941
Tmarus cameliformis Millot, 1941
Tmarus africanus De Lessert, 1919
Tmarus natalensis De Lessert, 1928
Tmarus foliatus De Lessert, 1928
Tmarus hirsutus Comellini, 1955
Tmarus planetarius Simon, 1903
Trichopagus manicata Simon, 1886
Xysticus havilandi Lawrence, 1942
Xysticus lucifugus Lawrence, 1937
Xysticus mulleri Lawrence, 1952
Xysticus namaquensis Simon, 1910
Xysticus natalensis Lawrence, 1938
Xysticus sagittifer Lawrence, 1927
Xysticus simonstownensis Strand, 1909: 576
Xysticus tugelanus Lawrence, 1942
Xysticus urbensis Lawrence, 1952
Zametopias trimeni Simon, 1895