Jumping Spider - Salticidae

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Photographer: deadmanswill

Insect Scout: deadmanswill

Location: Avantipuram, AP, India

Species Identifier(s): Wallby1 (http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/900949/)

Points to appreciate:

• Observe the layout of its eyes. These spiders have eight eyes and four are arranged in a neat row towards the front.
• These spiders move around by jumping and are secured by a silk tether. The concept of spiderman sprung from them.
• The two limbs in the front are called palps (or pedipalps). They aid in ingesting the food into the mouth.
• The hairs on their limbs are sensitive and function in place of sensitive antennae.
• This species was about 1 cm in length.

Notes:

• Jumping spiders are the largest spider family with about 5000 described species.
• They are well known for their good vision and inquisitiveness.
• They usually disguise themselves by mimicking other insects like beetles, ants, etc. Some are camouflaged to appear like parts of twigs, leaves, rock or sand.
• They can jump nearly 50 times their body length. Some are know to jump even greater distances. This is possible because jumping spiders have an internal hydraulic system in their legs that enables them to change their blood pressure and use it to gain leverage while jumping.

Lynx Spider - Oxyopes

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All the images in this blog are copyrighted. You are free to use these images for non-commercial purposes, such as desktop wallpapers, etc. For commercial use contact us at deadmanswill@gmail.com.

Photographer: deadmanswill

Insect Scout: deadmanswill

Location: Miryalaguda, AP, India

Species Identifier(s): Debbie Hadley (http://insects.about.com/)

Points to appreciate:

• Observe its mouthparts. The pair of projections that end in a sort of black beads are called pedipalps.
• Pedipalps are used for transfer of sperms from the male to the female of the species. This function is unique to spiders.
• Notice the finely spiked legs of the insect. And the legs are almost transparent.
• This species appears to be a striped lynx spider, but we are not sure. If you can identify the species, do leave a note in the comment box.

Notes from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxyopidae

• Lynx Spiders are hunting spiders that spend their lives on plants, flowers and shrubs. Nimble runners and jumpers, they rely on their keen eyesight to stalk, chase or ambush prey.
• Six of their eight eyes are arranged in a hexagon-like pattern, a characteristic that identifies them as members of the family Oxyopidae. They also have spiny legs.
• Some members of the genus Oxyopes are abundant enough to be important in agricultural systems as biological control agents. This is especially true of the striped lynx spider Oxyopes salticus.