Zebra jumping spiders munching on mosquitoes (pics)

[ECooper]

I’ve been taking photos of zebra jumping spiders (Salticus scenicus) that have been hunting mosquitoes on the screen door to my kitchen. These spiders are really endearing in their movements and “attitude”...it’s too bad they are so tiny. Imagine how much fun they would be if they were the size of a tarantula!

Males of the species are apparently darker in colour, so I believe that the first photo below is of a male, and the second is a female. If anyone can confirm that, please let me know. There are more photos of each specimen on my blog.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 camera; Zuiko 35mm macro lens; manual exposure (F8-F11 @ 1/200 sec); Olympus RF-11 ring flash (1/8-1/4 power); ISO: 200

Cheers,
EC
www.macrocritters.wordpress.com

P7040536 2 jumping spider on screen ernie cooper 2013 by ernie.cooper, on Flickr
P7110479 jumping spider screen 2 ernie cooper 2013 by ernie.cooper, on Flickr

 

[DragonsEye]

Nice pics. Gotta admit I was expecting something more like Salticus austinensis.

 

[ECooper]

Mea culpa

There is a quote circulating on Facebook that basically says that you are doing science wrong if you don’t make mistakes; that you are doing science really wrong if you don’t correct those mistakes; and that you aren’t doing it at all if you don’t accept that you’re mistaken.

Well, it turns out that the darker spider is actually a different species: Platycryptus (probably P. californicus). It also turns out that what I thought were mosquitoes were actually non-biting midges (chironomids). Sigh. I have re-edited my blog and corrected these mistakes.

I must be doing GREAT science!

It’s interesting that two very similar species, one introduced and one native, were feeding on the same prey within inches of one another. I wonder whether the two species avoid each other (given their great vision) or if one ever preys on the other?

Cheers,
EC
www.macrocritters.wordpress.com

 

[ECooper]

Nice pics. Gotta admit I was expecting something more like Salticus austinensis.

Wow! Those are pretty spiders!

 

[Wire Man]

I love jumpers! Such big personalities for such tiny animals. I don't know about you, but they love hanging around the pitcher plants.

 

[maxima]

...it’s too bad they are so tiny. Imagine how much fun they would be if they were the size of a tarantula!

No thanks!!!

Amazing photos as always, I do love jumping spiders as well, they are so colorful and energetic.

 

[Plant Planter]

Om nom nom!

Plant food eats plant food eats human.

 

[DragonsEye]

It’s interesting that two very similar species, one introduced and one native, were feeding on the same prey within inches of one another. I wonder whether the two species avoid each other (given their great vision) or if one ever preys on the other.

It wouldn't surprise me if they would feed on the others assuming they could "get the drop" on the other guy. Spiders aren't known for having a great deal of selectivity when it comes to what is "prey". Pretty much if it moves and I think I can take it down, it's food.

I do know there are species of jumpers that do indeed specialize, to some extent, in preying upon other spiders.