Ant Mimic Jumping Spider

At first glance this spider looks very similar to an ant. Jumping spiders of the genus Myrmarachne may imitate ants in both appearance and behavior. By mimicking an ant the spider might better avoid predators like spider wasps. Some ant mimic spiders may even prey on ants or the homopteran bugs they tend. Ants have three body segments while spiders have just two. Note how this spider's forward body segment has been adapted to give the overall body an appearance of three segments. The spider also waves it's front pair of legs giving the appearance of antenna. The spider's huge forward-facing eyes are a dead giveaway that it is a jumping spider. Jumping spiders (family Salticidae) have remarkable binocular vision which they use to locate, stalk and ambush prey. Though they are "jumping" spiders these spiders may only rarely engage in such non ant-like behavior. Ant-mimic jumping spiders are nevertheless very active and it was pure luck that I encountered this spider as it rested while feeding. In the past six years I have only encountered this type of spider three times in the forests where I walk.

This spider was encountered and filmed at an altitude of roughly 600 feet above sea-level and amidst the dense green forests of Nippondaira in central Japan. The Nippondaira is a small, isolated range of low coastal mountains between the cities of Shizuoka and Shimizu. This area is within Shizuoka prefecture and relatively close to Mt. Fuji. The spider was filmed in late June during the annual rainy season.

The following poem was submitted for this video by YouTube member "reymiland":

"A spider
that looks
like an ant,
Can jump,
like a
little ant..
..can't. "

----

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Japan
• Japanese
• Nippon
• Nihon
• ant
• mimic
• jumping
• spider
• mimicking
• Myrmarachne
• homopteran
• Salticidae
• binocular
• vision
• Tokaido
• Softypapa

[leepokman]

So you live in Japan? You work there or what? Where you originally from?

[softypapa]

@leepokman Yes, I both live and work in Japan though I am originally from the United States. ~Kurt :-)

[MrChrysops]

You did an amazing finding! Myrmarachne sp. are very difficult to spot, especially in a dense vegetation zone like the one you were filming. The one you found could possibly be a Myrmarachne japonica.

Anyway, I'm glad Bob suggested e this clip because it is amazing! Congratulations!

[softypapa]

@MrChrysops Thank you for watching and sharing your knowledge and thoughts regarding this spider. You are so correct in noting that it seems difficult to video tape or photograph this spider. The two previous encounters I have had were brief as the spider was moving incessantly and quickly escaped into deeper foliage. I guess that it was luck that this particular spider was resting while feeding. Thank you again and thanks as well to Bob for the nice recommendation. Have a great day! ~Kurt :-)

[FeileCase]

WOW I've never seen such a creature like this. I've seen spiders mimic other insects though not an Ant. Very Cool you came upon this. Auspicious almost now that you've been giving Bob Props too. Congratulations on the find & Video footage Kurt.

~Feile Case

:)

[softypapa]

@FeileCase This spider encounter was certainly special to me. It was fortunate that the spider was preoccupied with it's meal and that the lighting was so nice. Thanks again for watching and commenting! Have a great day! ~Kurt :-)

[Kytraal]

Look at those big, cute, black eyes looking deep into your soul, lovely!

[Dinnderladyman]

Could you tell me what video camera you use and how much it cost you?

[zule10000]

dawwwwwwwwww

[secreteve]

while searching for new and interesting science type videos my 7 year old daughter and I found your videos!!  So glad that we were able to view and learn. Thanks for sharing. We go on nature finds/hikes here together and take pictures and then return home to research our findings. Loved the videos keep them coming!!

[FoxofSilverBullet]

ok... that does it, im subscribing to you cause im very intrested in japan and im even thinking of visiting. so might as well know if i need to run or examin the bugs there XD -all spiders are on the run away screaming list-

[p0o0o0f]

Spider: leave me alone...

[TheOtherLioyd]

@Jambro972 Look them up. They do awesome things. Blind panic is never a good answer to anything.

[Jambro972]

I hate spiders and i hate big ants thus this video scared the crap out of me.

[MissWooHoo1]

i luv the huntsman spiders that live in my bedroom.

[minzcastro]

That is soooo awesome! I bet mamma ants tell their kids "beware of the spider in ants clothing!" lol

[Denji2006]

That is fucking awesome!