Flowers of the plant Lantana camara with a crab spider waiting in ambush for prey. Part of the family Verbenaceae, L. camara is native to South and Central America and is now found across the world. It is often planted indoors or in a conservatory but can also be used in a garden if it has sufficient shelter. In some areas it has become an invasive species, affecting agricultural areas as a result of its toxicity to livestock and an ability to form dense thickets.Photograph: Joaquim Alves Gaspar