There was a spider on my flowering crab apple tree today, it had
killed a bee.  It had white legs and a round pink body with a white
triangle on it.  I have a picture on my computer.

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Clarification of Question by noelle123-ga on 29 May 2005 10:37 PDT

I think it may be a crab spider, as they hide in flowers and kill
flower-visiting insects.  I can't find anything on a pink one, though,
only white.  The one in my tree is perfectly matched with the pink and
white flowers on the tree.

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Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 29 May 2005 11:00 PDT

A crab spider is a very good possibility. Crab spiders can be pink,
depending upon their diet:

http://www.americanarachnology.org/JoA_free/JoA_v28_n1/arac_28_01_0056.pdf

Your photograph would be quite helpful. If you have no hosting space
of your own, you might want to post the photo at a site like
PhotoBucket, and let us know the URL where we can view the photo.

http://photobucket.com/

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Clarification of Question by noelle123-ga on 29 May 2005 12:20 PDT

Thanks,
Here is a link to the picture.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/noelle_222/pinkspider.jpg

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Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 29 May 2005 12:32 PDT

Wow, what a beautiful photograph! I do think this is a crab spider.
Look at the photo on this page for comparison:

http://mamba.bio.uci.edu/~pjbryant/biodiv/spiders/Misumena%20vatia.htm

Please let me know what you think.

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Clarification of Question by noelle123-ga on 29 May 2005 12:50 PDT

Yep, I think that's it!
Thanks!

I'm glad to have been able to help you identify your spider.

I believe the spider in your photo is the type of crab spider called a
"goldenrod crab spider," one of the few spiders that can change color.
They are sometimes white, sometimes yellow, and can have pink or dark
rose-colored markings. Having changed their coloring to mimic their
surroundings, these beautiful, bold creatures lurk in flowers and
often catch honeybees.

More info (and a photo of a white goldenrod spider with pink markings)
may be found here:

EverythingAbout: Crab Spider
http://www.everythingabout.net/articles/biology/animals/arthropods/arachnids/spiders/crab_spider

This goldenrod crab spider's markings are so dark a shade of pink that
they are almost red:

Photographs from Nature: Goldenrod Crab Spider portrait 
http://www.images.on.ca/Cossey/pages/Spider_Goldenrod_Crab.htm

Thank you for sharing your photograph! I am fascinated by spiders, and
your photo is extraordinary.

Very best regards,
pinkfreud

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Clarification of Answer by pinkfreud-ga on 29 May 2005 13:20 PDT

One more pic. Look at the gorgeous pink markings on this crab spider:

http://www.museums.org.za/bio/spiderweb/thomisid.htm

~pinkfreud

Answered question, and more.  Thanks!

Pink is absolutely right.  An exceptional photograph!  Well done!

Superb answer by Pink as well.

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

It would be fun to find a flora and fauna book and see how fast Pink
identifies every beastie and plant that has pink in its name ... :-)