Lynx Spider - Oxyopes

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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.