Little Monsters Part 33 II - Even more Jumping Spiders!
What can I say? It was a really good weekend for finding and photographing Jumping spiders!
On the same day as the previous post's Evarcha pair, I spotted an ant mimic jumping spider, known locally as the "Blue Belted Jumping Spider", Siler cupreus, actively hunting ants!
The spider keeps its front pair of legs raised to mimic the profile of an ant.
It's prey is as large as it is and ants have powerful jaws and can sting too, it's a formidable opponent. They don't like to sit still either, then again it was trying not to become a spider's lunch!
After the previous ant got away, the spider continued to sit in ambush along the ant colony's foraging path.
The next day I was unable to find the Blue belted jumper, but did spot another jumping spider, which I haven't been able to confidently identify, hunting amongst the grass and sand. It was superbly camouflaged, only movement and its slightly whiny black carapace betraying its whereabouts.
Very hard to spot even taking up the greater portion of the photo!
It was certainly friendly though and crawled into my hand to say "Hello".
For scale he's standing on the depression of the second knuckle of my index finger, making him about 5mm long.
Maybe next time it won't be spiders, I won't promise that though!
Comments and feedback are always welcome.
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Also, if you like macro photography, check out some of the earlier posts in this series.
Little Monsters - Part I: Wolf Spiders
Little Monsters - Part II: Golden Orb Weaver
Little Monsters - Part III: Lynx Spiders!
Little Monsters - Part IV: Decorator Orb Weaver
Little Monsters - Part V: Black Back Paper Wasp
Little Monsters - Part VI: Dragonfly
Little Monsters - Part VII: Indian Fritallary
Little Monsters - Part VIII: Giant Japanese Hornet
Little Monsters - Part IX: Praying Mantis!
Little Monsters - Part X: Harlequin Ladybird!
Little Monsters - Part XI: Dragons!
Little Monsters - Part XII: Snails!
Little Monsters - Part XIII: Evil Weevils!
Little Monsters - Part XIV: Fantastic Phasmids!
Little Monsters - Part XV: To Bee or not to Bee?
Little Monsters - Part 16: Jumping Spiders!
Little Monsters - Part 17: Hawkmoth Caterpillars and Hawkmoths
Little Monsters - Part 18: Evil Doppelgangers - The Ant Mimic Spider
Little Monsters - Part 19: Hummingbird Hawkmoth!
Little Monsters - Part 20: Loud and Proud the Cicada!
Little Monsters - Part 21: Great Green Caterpillars!
Little Monsters - Part 22: Vespa mandarina japonica
Little Monsters - Part 23: Little Black Ants
Little Monsters - Part 24: Cranes and Robbers
Little Monsters - Part 25: Hidden in the Grass
Little Monsters - Part 26: Ammophila, Alien is real!
Little Monsters - Part 27: Bush Cricket
Little Monsters - Part 28: Butterflies, flying bits of colour!
Little Monsters - Part 29: Hermit Crabs!
Little Monsters - Part 30: Redback Spider
Little Monsters - Part 31: Harlequin Ladybird Larva
Little Monsters - Part 32: Small Cabbage White
Little Monsters - Part 33: Jumping Spiders II Evarcha albaria
I maintain and reserve copyright on all of my photos.
Beautiful ugly insects :) Excellent photos!
Arachnids! LOL. Thanks for the wonderful compliment!
Oops, yes, you are right :)) I do not know much about monsters :)
I'll do my best to inform you and the Steemit community! :P
Beautiful photos of some classic little arachno's. Those green belts do look like and ant at first look. Very ingenious.
Love to watch the jumping spiders around the yard. They are pretty unique. Thanks for sharing more of the eight-legger's.
You're very welcome. Thank you for your support!
There's another ant mimic that looks even more like an ant as it's solid black, I'll try to get some pictures of them soon!
hey you
it's animal portrait this week
no entry?
Haha, I'm actually working on a post for it right now!
It's up now! Photochallenge Entry
sorry I've been away busy in my other garden for too long I guess.. did I miss it?
No, the post is still votable and the contest is running for two weeks this time, so you've got plenty of time to put in an entry if you want!