Walking Like Ants Gives Spiders a Chance

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Spiders Are Cool!

Jumping spider (stock image).
Credit: © mps_photo / Fotolia​

Ants are aggressive at defending themselves: They are well-armed with bites, stings and formic acid. Ant-mimicking jumping spiders -- Myrmarachne formicaria -- in contrast, can't do much more than run on their eight legs when attacked. Not surprisingly, insect predators tend to prefer spiders over ants, so appearing to be an ant confers significant protection.

Protective mimicry is a remarkable example of adaptive evolution: Moths can be colored like butterflies and grasshoppers may look like tiger beetles. While most mimicry studies focus on traits like color and shape, the researchers used multiple high-speed cameras and behavioral experiments to pinpoint how the spider's movements mimic ants.

Read More At: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170714140227.htm