Journal

Micro Movements in the Cyrtarachne

on
6 January 2012

2 years ago, I posted some examples of bugs which exhibit micro movements when they appear to be at rest when viewed with the naked eye. It was only much later that I managed to document this movement in the Bird Dropping Spider ( Cyrtarachne sp.) when I found one and actually remembered to shoot it. 😛



Frog Mimic or Bird Dung Spider? (Cyrtarachne sp.) - DSC_9203#1 The Bird Dropping Spider (Pasilobus sp. Cyrtarachne sp.) with an unidentified fly plastered onto the abdomen

Bird Dung Spider (Cyrtarachne sp.) - DSC_9227#2 The micro movements. I do not have any verified theories to these movements, but my first thought was that it was due to the movement of digestive juices in the spider. David Court had suggested that it could also be a anti-predator warning device.

Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_9179#3 A juvenile Huntsman Spider

Unknown eggs - DSC_9194#4 Unidentified eggs, looked like golden eggs!

Wolf Spider (Lycosidae) - DSC_9261#5 Female Wolf Spider (Lycosidae) carrying an egg sac

Wolf Spider (Lycosidae) - DSC_9270#6 Front view of the same wolf spider

Jumping Spider (Siler sp.) - DSC_9275#7 A Jumping Spider (Siler sp.) captured this planthopper nymph while we were observing it.

Jumping Spider (Siler sp.) - DSC_9278#8 It loved to raise it’s 2 fore-legs in this manner. To ward off predators perhaps?

Jumping Spider (Siler sp.) - DSC_9281#9 Yes, still doing it. Surrender? lol

Jumping Spider (Siler sp.) - DSC_9283#10 Back view. Very colourful abdomen

Jumping Spider (Siler sp.) - DSC_9297#11 Top view. We were hoping that this was a peacock spider, but it was not to be. 😛

Crab Spider (Thomisidae) - DSC_9317#12 Relatively large Crab Spider (Angaeus rhombifer)

Crab Spider (Thomisidae) - DSC_9324#13 Top view of the crab spider

Caterpillar - DSC_9330#14 Unidentified caterpillar, with a very stout body and vibrant colours

Caterpillar - DSC_9336#15 Better view of the patterns on it’s body

Caterpillar - DSC_9338#16 Close up of the head

Spitting Spider (Scytodidae) - DSC_9353#17 A very small Spitting Spider (Scytodes sp.)

Katydid (Tettigoniidae) - DSC_9365#18 Leaf-like Katydid

Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_9368#19 Male Huntsman (Heteropoda sp.)

Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_9373#20 Face shot to show the eye arrangement

Ladybird (Coccinellidae) - DSC_9400#21 Cute little ladybird

Tree Stump Orb Weaver Spider (Poltys elevatus) - DSC_9409#22 Tree Stump Orb Weaver (Poltys elevatus)

Tree Stump Orb Weaver Spider (Poltys elevatus) - DSC_9441#23 Side view of the tree-stump wannabe. The abdomen is thinner than the previous ones that I had shot before:

Tree Stump Orb Weaver Spider (Poltys elevatus) - DSC_9452#24 Managed a portrait shot. This was already focused to infinity with the Raynox 250 slapped on.

Crab Spider (Thomisidae) - DSC_9471#25 Another Crab Spider (Angaeus rhombifer)

Crab Spider (Thomisidae) - DSC_9485#26 Front view of the eyes.

Orb Weaver Spider (Araneidae) - DSC_9490#27 This spider caught my eye with the jade-green abdomen. Probably a Kidney Garden Spider (Araneus mitificus)

DSC_9499#28 Unidentified fly? Possibly a mirid bug

Wandering Spider (Ctenidae) - DSC_9516#29 Wandering Spider (Ctenus sp.) on the ground, munching on a roach

Mantidfly (Mantispidae) - DSC_9543#30 Found this dead Mantidfly on the way out of the trail. 🙁


The complete album can be viewed here.
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1 Comment
  1. Reply

    quintaqua

    21 February 2012

    wonderful pictures! as for the micro movements …well, i am no expert…but could it be because of some kind of parasite? something like Leucochloridium paradoxum that parasitizes snails?

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NICKY BAY
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Hi my name is Nicky Bay. I am a macro photographer, instructor and book author, travelling the world to document the vast micro biodiversity that nature has to offer. Follow my updates and discover with me the incredible beauty and science behind our planet's micro creatures!

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