Spring in #SriLanka brings one of my biggest joys of the island. May I present to you the weaver ants. First, we have a huge queen. Many have green gasters, but this one is solid orange. She has a good start to her brood. These will eventually be her workers that will build her a nest and feed her. You will often find a few founding queens together on one leaf. One of the few species I know of that seem to do better with multiple queens.
And now for #SalticidSunday I present a couple of Tan Jumping Spiders (Platycryptus undatus) photographed on a wood railing in SE South Dakota. I believe the one on the left (or top) with the orange band is a male and the other is a female.
#Spiders #Aranae #Platycryptus #undatus #SouthDakota #Nature #Photography
Found this cute little dude under a log that was occupied by trap jaw ants. I'm always amazed at the life to be found under a log. It moved very strangely, but didn't seem to mind me getting close enough to snap a photo. It did not appreciate the flash at all though.
#SalticidSunday #Spiders #Nature #Photography #Spartaeus #Salticidae
This is one of the ant mimic jumping spiders, but I'm not sure which. If you know, please share. I was trying a more versatile diffusion setup, but it wasn't amazing. The spider pictured here is under a fine sheet of web though so in general, I guess it was fine. I want diffusion that is attached to my flash heads again. It has its drawbacks, but it is just so handy.
#SalticidSunday #SriLanka #Spiders #Arthropods #Salticidae #Myrmarachne
Groot would like to wish you an "I am Groot"
I believe this is in the genus Cotinusa but would love a real ID.
Is #SalticidSunday a thing? I think it should be. So now it is! So today I give you this male Wasp-mimic Jumping Spider (Rhene flavicomans). A tiny little thing that was intrigued by my camera. I only got face on shots. You can get an idea of its stripes and wasp like markings though.
Ben S
Third Silence