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Red weaver ant mimic spider

Myrmarachne plataleoides

Photo by sunnyjosef
Published on Project Noah
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9.94526, 76.2512

Field Notes

Description:

Excellent mimic of weaver ants, this jumping spider is shown against the ant it mimics..

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (11)
hg_williams3
hmm thats is very interesting sunnyjosef. Keep observing them you might get a glimpse into their secret lives
sunnyjosef
Thank you hg_williams3..... As per wiki, they are using the mimicry for protection and they avoid hunting the ants they mimic... but I have seen so many ant exoskeletons around their nests. But never actually seen one hunt an ant.. Mysterious nature....
hg_williams3
now that's thats a good mimic. do you know why they mimic these ants, to hunt them or just protection from being hunted?
LaurenZarate
Wonderful that you put the two together! Fantastic mimic.
Tiz
Thanks for that info, The spotting just became even more fascinating :)
sunnyjosef
Thank you Marta RubioTexeira and Tiz... Liz, you have a keen observation...The spider has eight legs like any other.. The front legs are kept waving in the air just like an ant's antennae...
The MnMs
Very nice finding and comparison picture!
Tiz
Very nice and interesting. Does the mimic spider just have six legs? Super pictures!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Spiders of India
Mission
Jumping Spiders of the World
Mission
National Geographic's Great Nature Project
Mission
Myrmecomorphy (ant mimics)
Photographed
PublishedJuly 31, 2013

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