Ant-mimicking Spider
This is a fast moving black jumping spider. I moved several other observations of a similar species to the gallery 'White-collared Ant-mimicking Jumper'. The differences could only be gender related. However, they were also found in a different micro-habitat, showing differing behaviours (and inclinations to be photographed). They could be the same species. They all have in common that they look and behave like ants, point their front legs as if they were antennae. The specimen that is presenting this gallery now, looks different. Its front palps remind of crab pincers. It was the only individual seen using its silk to cross from our lemon tree to the dragon fruit. The lemon tree is home to a small colony of rattle ants, which are probably its prey. All individuals were solitary hunters and no related mates were observed nearby. The second spotting of this species was hilarious. The ant was running around in yet another habitat. It is extremely ineffective when hunting and I am not sure if those long pincers actually help. It jumped on a tiny mosquito but lost it. When the mosquito turned around in their erratic fashion, the ant was like a puppy dog. It got frightened by the touch of the mosquito, jumped around and eventually moved on. The same behaviour happened twice after that with different small mosquitos. I also saw this spider on a jump attempt, probably aiming at my lens. It is extremely hard to photograph this small ant properly because it never stands still for long and the pincers somehow throw the camera focus out of whack. Well, what an adventure though. Going through all the photos I noticed that this species might after all have a white collar, too. It is only visible when the animal looks downward. I won't merge this species back with the White-collared Ant-mimicking Jumper yet, since it could have been a reflection. Update 11/8/2016: I could not only document the white collar, but also interaction between a large-jawed specimen (about 8mm) and a small one (4mm) with short jaws. Additionally, all of a sudden there was a third ant-like spider in the area. It has the white collar, the fine black leg line but looks golden and - surprise - rather uses silk to move downwards than jump short distances. It remains to be seen if it is Myrmarachne luctuosa but I don't think so. It seemed to follow this male's scent trail. By the way, I also think, the large observed specimen hunts other small spiders because I observed it carefully climbing and stretching itself onto a web with a spider only a few centimeters away. I am not quite sure when and how I will merge the two galleries. Update 26/1/2016: When I started photographing spiders a couple of months ago, I had no idea about ant mimicks. They were hard to spot, let alone recognise as spiders. Now in spring, they can be called abundant. At the moment, there are several breeding pairs. How amazing again, to not witness females eating males in the process. In this species, the female seems to build a soft web with probably only one access hole. A few days later, the female part of the house is reinforced to a dense white cocoon. The female as far as I can see does not leave it any more. A male builds an annex, woven with less silk. The male is still moving and guarding the nest. But I have not observed males go far from the nest to feed. Maybe it happens at night, maybe they stop feeding altogether. Can't wait to see the juveniles.
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