This little jumping spider was about 5mm (0.2in) and very reluctant to be photographed. He kept turning away from me, so I actually have over 10 shots of his butt. He kept ducking under a leaf, so I have shots of him moving away into the shadow of an overhanging leaf. I kept shooting though, and I am stoked to have this one clear shot of the little guy and his prize!
It's a red weaver ant that he's carrying in his jaws. Why did he have his two front legs up like that? I don't know. Some sites say this is a defensive posture for spiders but I doubt that. I didn't see any threat to him. (I'm not a threat! XD ) So maybe it's something else. Maybe he just wants to say, "I give up! Take your one shot! Now go!" 8D
His coloring is absolutely gorgeous. (Take a look at the larger version if you like.) He is yellow-orange with white dots, with legs that have a beautiful golden shimmer to them, as if covered in gold varnish!
Lol. Great capture. He may have been reacting to his reflection in the camera lens, they use their front legs to communicate with other jumping spiders in a semaphore pattern of movements. The contrasting colors of the front legs enhance the perception of movement and position. They also vibrate the substrate they're standing on.
I love how you try to figure out what they are thinking ; ) I always wonder, too. Great job of capturing him. Absolutely love that he has a "prize" with him.
What a little stunner - he's utterly captivating viewed large - fabulous macro as always - love the raindrops around him on the leaf too - they look huge next to him!
@robv - I'm with Rob here... this does look like he is checking himself out in the lens. I have seen this display quite often with the jumpy jumpy spideys here. We have a green tree ant which weaves just like your guy here and there is a jumpy spider which mimics the ant in colour, appearance and pheromone and therefore lives inside the ant nest feeding on all the eggs he wants to...
You know, Livia ... they both looks like "jewels" to me. The color tones and the lighting here are awesome .. as is your clarity. The pov is fascinating. Here you actually caught one carrying his prey (lunch?) home. Perfection .... a FAV.
@robv@bobfoto Thank you, guys! 8D Here's another odd thing. The other day I saw this lynx spider in the same posture. He had nothing in his jaws, just his front legs straight up. He wasn't even facing me, he was right on the edge of the leaf, so he wasn't facing anything except, as far as I could tell, thin air. It made me wonder why he had that posture. He kept it up for more than two or three minutes. (When I left him, he was still doing it.) He wasn't moving at all, just standing there with his front legs up, looking at thin air. I thought that was really strange. XD
Delightful and I love your story. FAV! BTW, I bought my grandkids the Mrs. Spider book series when they were small. Have you heard of them? If not, I highly recommend them even for adults ;-)
Wow, what a fantastic capture, Livia. I was so amazed at your photo the other day of the jumping spider that I just showed it to my husband. This is equally as awesome. I do not know how you do it and love your narrative of what happened. Would love to get together with you and take photos. FAV
Lol! Love your title Livia! you just capture these little spiders personalities so well!! Large view is excellent you are right the colors are amazing...again...i cant imagine there not being a "God" to create such magnificent creatures....so beautiful liv!
@bobfoto Yes, that's right. From what I've read, web-spinning spiders rely on their web to catch their food while active hunters use their ability to produce silk in other ways (but not to catch their food). Jumping spiders will let out a "lifeline" when they jump. It's in case they miss their target, they can climb back up to where they were before. They also use web strands to put together a place under a rock or something, where they can shelter from the rain. The lynx spiders don't spin webs to catch their food although they do make little webby nests for their eggs.
haha, he does look as if he's surrendering :)). Great capture, as always Livia. Thank you so much for your encouraging words the other day and for your useful tips that might allow me to stay in the project. I really appreciate your advice and support !
ahahahaha, this with your title made me laugh outloud :) i had a little spidey appear on my flower shoot today and i immediately shot it while thinking of you, althou i havn't posted it here today, it might sit in my fillers folder :)
Awesome capture there :) I know how hard these guys are to capture! I did one ages ago... a jumpy spider.. and boy oh boy they love to show off their bums lol. Love this, fav :) Also, interesting reading between you, Jason and Robert :)
@robv That's really interesting re: their legs for communicating!
@bobfoto As always, I picked up so much info on these little guys from your banter :)
What a great shot. It does look quite guilty you caught him in the act. Jumping spiders always seem pretty friendly but they don't hang around long and away they go. Well at least for me anyway.
Oh my gosh, that is cute! Usually, these face me, but they do also like to run for cover....not to mention their size...so they are hard to get and this is just perfection! So funny and so amazing- fav!
A great, big, dramatic, over-the-top, hands-are-up-and-waving "THANK YOU!" to everyone!
So happy that you have enjoyed seeing this little jumper. I had such a great time shooting him (in spite of his "running away" from me every time I think I've got him properly focused) that I think, I will never forget the experience. He's really cute, and I'm happy I have this shot to remember him by. (Is it normal to speak of spiders with such fondness? Should I get my head examined? XD )
Thank you so much for stopping by. I appreciate your comments and encouragement deeply. Thank you!
Maybe he's just keeping his legs out of the way whilst he eats dinner?
@robv That's really interesting re: their legs for communicating!
@bobfoto As always, I picked up so much info on these little guys from your banter :)
So happy that you have enjoyed seeing this little jumper. I had such a great time shooting him (in spite of his "running away" from me every time I think I've got him properly focused) that I think, I will never forget the experience. He's really cute, and I'm happy I have this shot to remember him by. (Is it normal to speak of spiders with such fondness? Should I get my head examined? XD )
Thank you so much for stopping by. I appreciate your comments and encouragement deeply. Thank you!