Stig Östlund

lördag, augusti 10, 2013

Jumping Spider Mimics (Image 7)





This adult female jumping spider (Phiale formosa) from the La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica is presumably mimicking a wasp, or velvet ant. Velvet ants are actually wingless wasps with a painful sting so mimicking them gives the spider protection from predators, who stay away. Interestingly, the male of this species is also a mimic, but has a striking black and white pattern that probably mimics a different species of velvet ant. [Image 7 of 12 related images. See Image 8.]

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