Distribution of social crab spiders in eucalypt forests

Social crab spiders (Thomisidae, Diaea ) are found in Eucalyptus forests of varying latitude, altitude and species composition in southern Australia. Neither temperature nor rainfall differ between areas where social Diaea are found, suggesting that spiders have a preferred climatic range, and that they change altitudes at different latitudes to maintain their preferred range. In these areas, those Eucalyptus species that hosted Diaea had smaller leaves and fruit than eucalypts that did not, which suggests that the spiders may choose trees based on leaf morphology.