46 Nebraskaland • July 2026
When you think of yellow in nature, you probably
picture sunshine, flowers or maybe buzzing bees. Yellow
in animals usually comes from carotenoids — pigments
they get from their diet. Birds like the meadowlark and
goldfinch wear yellow thanks to these plant-based
pigments. In insects and amphibians, yellow can also
come from pteridines, or pigments made in their bodies.
But yellow can also be the perfect disguise, especially if
you're a predator waiting to surprise your dinner. Enter the
goldenrod crab spider, a master of camouflage that uses bright
yellow to vanish in plain sight. These little spiders are named
for their ability to walk sideways like a crab, but it's their color-
changing ability that makes them stand out or disappear.
Goldenrod crab spiders can shift between white and
bright yellow, depending on the color of the f lower
they're hiding on — usually goldenrod, black-eyed
Susans or sunf lowers. That yellow isn't just for show;
it's for stealth. While a bumble bee or butterf ly sips
nectar, the spider lies in wait, its yellow body blending
seamlessly into the petals until it grabs its prey with
lightning-fast front legs.
A n d w h o c o u l d fo rg e t t h e we s te r n m e a d ow l a r k ,
Nebraska's state bird? With its bright yellow chest and
bold black "V" necklace, the meadowlark stands out
among the tall grasses where it nests and sings. Unlike
camouflage or warning, this yellow is all about visibility,
especially during the breeding season when males belt out
their flute-like song from fence posts or shrubs. In the bird
world, that bold coloring says, "This is my territory!" and
also helps to attract a mate.
Bold
Yellow
ABOVE: Crab spider on upright
yellow coneflower (Ratibida
columnifera). CHRIS HELZER
LEFT: A western meadowlark
(Sturnella neglecta) calls at Box
Butte Reservoir State Recreation
Area. JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
