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Ant Mimic Spider on Ant Fern

Myrmarachne ramosa on Lecanopteris sp.

Photo by craigwilliams
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

One of the things I really wanted to see in the Cameron Highlands was Lecanopteris, or Ant Ferns. The rhizomes of these bizarrely beautiful ferns have connecting hollow chambers that are used as homes by ants (There are quite a few plants that do this - it's called Myrmecophily) The only Lecanopteris I saw were large plants that had come down on fallen branches, most of them already dead. This one was just clinging to life (2nd picture) & I was very excited to see what I thought was a sole ant, still on patrol! It 6 months later I first saw a picture of an ant mimic spider & thought wow - I've got to see one of those! Then, looking back on these shots, I realised I already had!

Nothing to compare with the suberb macros on here, but cute all the same I think.

Habitat:

Degraded mossy forest

Species ID Suggestions

Ant-mimicry spider

Myrmarachne ramosa

Comments (6)

that is awesome, first i thought it was a mimicry spider at a caterpillar menu. but i had never imagined the suspected catterpillar would be a plant. Very stunning,love it, all 2 (spider and plant). [btw. i know how you feel: i take pictures of the little fungi, and sadly, just home at the computer i see what still more tiny things i had missed at the spotting place, the last time i saw a caterpillar [which i not recognized] running next to the "dead mans finger" and home i saw it then, or at home i identifiy the spotting right, and think: let go back !!]
Welcome. If I would have the chance, I would also visit Cameron Highlands to find the strange Ant Fern.
I love finding new things in old photos!
That's wonderful! Thank you Chun Xing Wong. Another great reason to return to Malaysia!
Spiders that mimic ants are quite common in Malaysia.

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