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Adult female jumping mimics the waving antennae of velvet ants
An adult female jumping spider (Phiale mimica) from the rainforest of La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica. The spider is seen here waving her front legs, presumably mimicking the waving antennae of a velvet ant (probably of the genus Dasymutilla). Velvet ants are actually wingless wasps and have a painful sting, so mimicking them gives the spider protection from predators.
More about this Image
As part of her dissertation research, supported by a U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Lisa Taylor of Arizona State University studied mimicry in the jumping spider family Salticidae. Salticidae are the largest family of jumping spiders in the world.
In biology, mimicry is the similarity of one species to another and may offer protection from predators for one or both of the species involved. The mimicking species may be similar to the mimicked in appearance, behavior, sound, scent and location. (Date of Image: 2005-2010)
Credit: Lisa Taylor, Arizona State University
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