Friday, September 4, 2009

Jumping Spider (Tutelina elegans)

click for large

Tutelina is a small genus of very interesting American salticids that deserve much more study. These spiders, which themselves seem to be generalized ant mimics, readily attack and feed upon small ants. It is generally unusual for ant mimics to attack ants, as more often the spiders are Batesian ant mimics. The fewer ants they eat, the more there are to hide amongst.

This is a female. The males have a very interesting double mohawk style hairdo that is quite something to behold. The females are a pretty emerald green, and I really like her flashy yellow striped legs.

Raynox DCR-150 and Raynox DCR-250, stacked and mounted on my Panasonic Lumix FZ8.

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