"When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion." -Ethiopian saying
While I really doubt if spider webs can hold a lion, I do not doubt the amazing abilities of spiders. Especially jumping spiders.
Many people feel revulsion or fear when the see spiders. They do not realize that not all spiders are dangerous for humans. Some, like the jumping spider are actually good around the house since they kill some pests.
I was in that category of people who was neither scared nor attracted to spiders- till I picked up a macro lens and looked at them!
When I saw spiders, especially jumping spiders through a macro lens, I was amazed at the structure and the colors they displayed. Plus, some of them positively look cute! How can one not adore this little fella with a yellow hat like top ....
Cute! Hyllus jumping spider
Collage of my own click and graphics
This little guy looked like any other jumping spider. Smallish, around 5-6 mm and drab in color when I noticed him with my naked eyes.
I swung in my macro lens and found that he had these large round cute eyes and a yellow stripe that made him look flamboyant and cute at the same time!
He was very very curious too. I was trying to get him to face me to get a shot of those large cute eyes but he kept turning away at the last moment. So, I held my camera ready in one hand and held a small leaf and made sort of swishing motions gently. He notices the motion even when he was almost turned away from me and turned to investigate. That is when I clicked this pic!
Jumping spiders actually have 4 pairs of eyes. Their eyesight is one of the amazing facts about them.
Amazing eyesight of the jumping spiders
The large two eyes, or the Principle eyes of jumping spiders are almost like binoculars. They have large our lenses and small inner lenses which project an image directly on the retina. Much like our digital cameras. The retina is directly attached to eye muscles so that it can slide up, down or sideways, allowing the spider to focus on different parts of the scene without any outward movement.
The smaller pair of eyes provides phenomenal peripheral vision.
Apart from the anterior eyes, the spiders have 4 posterior lateral eyes which are at the side and slightly towards the back of the head. These eyes are designed to detect large motion and change in light. They give the spider warning if there is some predator or prey movement at the back.
Phenomenal vision - 4 anterior and 4 posterior eyes
My own click of a jumping spider
All this arsenal of visual prowess is very relevant when we understand the hunting style of these spiders.
How jumping spiders hunt
Contrary to most other spider species that we see around the house and yard, jumping spiders do NOT use webs to hunt. They are foot soldiers. They hunt prey by stalking it on foot and jumping at it to capture it.
All that phenomenal vision is used to locate and zero in on the prey. The jumping spider stalk the prey as it moves around. The spider accurately calculates the depth, angle and distance and then launches itself to capture the prey! Literally, it jumps on the prey.
Jumping spiders can jump up to 50 times their body length sometimes!
How do they jump - Well, they contract some special muscles to suddenly increase blood flow to their hind leg muscles. These muscles suddenly expand to their full length and propel the tiny spider forward.
I tried a lot so far to get a shot or a video of the actual jump of the spider. However, I have been unsuccessful so far. It happens in micro-seconds and it was just impossible for me to focus well. Got some blurry images that's all. 😀
However, I do have this picture I captured of a tiny immature jumping spider capturing a mosquito!
Jumping spider with mosquito kill
My own click
I could go on and on about the cute jumping spiders or spiders in general. I always remember this quote from a Rick Riordan book
"'I excel at pulling strings!' said Arachne. 'I’m a spider!'”
― Rick Riordan, 'The Mark of Athena'
Spiders are literally good at pulling strings aren't they. LOL 😂
Jumping spiders are not good at pulling strings or making webs but they are great hunters and really entertain with their antics.
Hope this post motivates you not to swat them and at least let them live ...
Finally, here is the photo of the spider in it's original form
A big thank you for support
Thanks to Amazing nature community for providing this wonderful opportunity to present my experience and photographs.
Thanks to HIVE for this wonderful platform. Thanks to Amazing nature community for encouragement to my posts.
Note: All images and collages in this blog are created by me, based on photos clicked by me personally and/or free vector images from Pixabay unless specifically mentioned under the image
Quotes used, if not credited, are either from unknown authors or are proverbial old sayings.
