Myrmarachne exasperans
| Myrmarachne exasperans | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Salticidae |
| Genus: | Myrmarachne |
| Species: | M. exasperans |
| Binomial name | |
| Myrmarachne exasperans (Peckham & Peckham, 1892) | |
Myrmarachne exasperans is a species of jumping spider found in southeast Asia.[1] The species which was originally described in Java has also been recorded in Borneo, Palawan (Philippines) Vietnam and Bali, where the largest number of individuals have been recorded.[2]
Mimicry
While most species in the genus Myrmarachne mimic ants, M. exasperans is believed to mimic a species of ichneumonid wasp of the genus Goryphus (possibly Goryphus basilaris).[3] Myrmarachne exasperans mimics the ichneumonid wasp in both appearance and behaviour, flicking its front legs and abdomen up and down to mimic the movement of the wasps antennae and wings.[3]
Nest
Myrmarachne exasperans nests can be found under medium and large leaves, particularly Heliconia, Ficus, Asplenium nidus and Hibiscus.[3] Unlike nests built by other species of Myrmarachne that comprise solely of silk, M. exasperans decorates the outer layer of its nest with detritus.[3]
Further reading
References
- ↑ "Myrmarachne_exasperans". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- ↑ Hill, David E.; Otto, Jürgen C. (4 September 2015). "Exasperating taxonomy of the colourful ant-mimic Myrmarachne exasperans" (PDF). Peckhamia. 131 (1): 5.
- 1 2 3 4 Hurni-Cranston, Tiziano; Hill, David E. (27 December 2018). "Notes on the jumping spider Myrmarachne exasperans (Araneae: Salticidae: Astioida: Myrmarachnini) in Bali, a possible mimic of parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Cryptini: Goryphus)" (PDF). Peckhamia. 176 (1): 26.