#myrmarachne bicolor

[ljsbugblog]

exciting find today!! I believe this is a Red-and-Black Ant Mimic, a species of jumping spider evolved to mimic Strobe ants (family Opisthopsis). While I dont have a positive ID, this female looks like she's mimicking the Black-Headed Strobe Ant (Opisthopsis rufithorax).

Ant mimic spiders (Salticids or otherwise) are so fascinating to me, but I rarely get to see them, let alone get a clear photo. This girl was moving around so quickly (also mimicking the quick, jagged movements of Strobe ants) and I didn't have my macro on me, so sorry for the photo quality! she's too cool not to share anyway imo :,)

🕷!!!

Red-and-Black Ant Mimic, female (Myrmarachne bicolor).

#any salticid experts out there #specifically for eastern queensland myrmarachne lol #ill update this post if theres any ID errors here anyways #ljsbugblog #bugblr #entomology #arachnids #salticidae #jumping spiders #myrmarachne #ant-mimic spiders #ant-mimic jumping spiders #myrmarachne bicolor #red-and-black ant mimic #video

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

If this ant looks odd, that's because it's not an ant-- it's actually a spider! Members of the genus Myrmarachne are a prime example of Batesian mimicry: juveniles or adults (or both) resemble that of an ant, and when it's threatened it positions its front legs to resemble an ant's antennae. Because ants often have strong defensive traits like powerful pincers or harmful toxins, potential predators avoid them-- and anything that looks like them.

(Image: A female two-colored ant mimic (Myrmarachne bicolor) by Robert Whyte)

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#ant-mimicking spiders #Araneae #Salticidae #jumping spiders #spiders #arachnids #arthropods #uncharismatic facts

[ljsbugblog]

we finally found another Myrmarachne ant mimic, in our bathroom of all places.

I've been itching to get some more photos of these spiders since getting my speedlite, but they're very elusive and almost constantly in motion. thankfully this lady was content to explore a sheet of cardboard while I took a million photos of her like a madman.

special shoutout to my wonderful partner for a) spotting the spider in our house and b) wiggling their fingers in front of her to keep her attention while I got these photos (it seems jumping spiders are the wayward cats of the arthropod world lol).

I'll link my other Myrmarachne post here, as its interesting to compare the colouration of the two individuals. likely the same species, but my previous sighting had a much brighter gold on her abdomen.

Red-headed Ant-mimic Spider, female (Myrmarachne erythrocephala).

#ljsbugblog #bugblr #entomology #macro #arachnids #spiders #salticidae #jumping spiders #myrmarachne #ant-mimic spiders #myrmarachne erythrocephala #red-headed ant-mimic spider

[ljsbugblog]

I was so stoked when I saw this Myrmarachne bicolor mimicking a Strobe ant two months ago, but I could've never imagined I would then see another Myrmarachne mimicking a completely different species.

this female is mimicing one of the many species of Polyrachis ants, my guess is P. ammon, the Golden Tailed Spiny Ant. while she doesn't have the spikes on her thorax characteristic of these ants (nor does she have a thorax in general, but is able to emulate one with a 'bump' in her oblong cephalothorax), she does have the incredible shiny golden abdomen and black banding, which I'm sure is convincing enough to make potential predators think twice!

much like the other Myrmarachne I've observed, she incessantly waves her forelegs in front of her to simulate an ant's antennae, and moves quickly and purposefully to further sell the illusion.

Red-headed Ant-mimic Spider, female (Myrmarachne erythrocephala).

#ljsbugblog #bugblr #entomology #macro #arachnids #spiders #salticidae #jumping spiders #myrmarachne #ant-mimic spiders #myrmarachne erythrocephala #red-headed ant-mimic spider