slender ant-mimic jumping spider
(Synemosyna formica)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
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Description |
The slender ant-mimic jumping spider is a Batesian mimic. It has evolved to imitate the appearance of ants which are avoided by mantises, ants, and larger jumping spiders. The front body part of the body (cephalothorax) has a relatively sharp downward slope between the head portion and the thorax portion. The rear portion of the cephalothorax is narrow and has parallel sides. It appears to be part of the pedicel. The abdomen is constricted, an evolutionary modification to mimic ants. There are white marks at the constriction on dark individuals, pale marks on light individuals. The legs have no prominent spines. The front legs are curved, mimicking ant antennae. On the copulatory organs of the male (palpal bulbs) the embolus is fixed to the tegulum. There are four pairs of eyes arranged in three rows. The front middle (anterior median) pair is by far the largest. The rear two pair form a square. |
Size |
Female Body Length: 3 ⁄16″ to ¼″ Male Body Length: ⅛″ to 3 ⁄16″ |
Web |
No web |
Similar Species |
Habitat |
Bushes and tall grass |
Biology |
Season |
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Behavior |
Movements by the spider keep ants at an acceptable distance. |
Life Cycle |
The slender ant-mimic jumping spider is prey for the very ants that it mimics, yet it builds its nest in close proximity to an ant nest. It constructs a very tough nest that the ants cannot penetrate. The odor of the nearby ant nest keeps predators away from the spider nest. |
Food |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 11/16/2024 | ||
Occurrence |
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Taxonomy |
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Class |
Arachnida (arachnids) |
Order |
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Suborder |
Araneomorphae (typical spiders) |
Infraorder |
Entelegynae |
Superfamily |
Salticoidea |
Family |
Salticidae (jumping spiders) |
Subfamily |
Salticinae (typical jumping spiders) |
Tribe |
Simonellini |
Genus |
Synemosyna (slender ant-mimic jumping spider) |
Subordinate Taxa |
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Synonyms |
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Synemosyna gibberosa |
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Common Names |
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slender ant-mimic jumping spider |
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Glossary
Cephalothorax
The front part of a spider’s body, composed of the head region and the thoracic area fused together. Eyes, legs, and antennae are attached to this part.
Pedicel
In plants: the stalk of a single flower in a cluster of flowers. In Hymenoptera and Araneae: the narrow stalk connecting the thorax to the abdomen.
Visitor Photos |
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Alfredo Colon |
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Albany, NY on August 7, 2022. These ant mimics were more numerous than real ants....incredible. |
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One of my Wish List insects for MN was an ant mimic jumping spider and I got it. I think this is the Slender Ant-Mimicking Jumping Spider, Synemosyna formica. When I shot it I really believed it was ant.....until I saw the enlarged photo in the camera. The photos were taken on June 2, 2021 in Wooodbury, MN. |
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...the ant on top of a flower petal. |
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Siri |
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Measured about 3mm in length. |
Terry Hayes |
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… this ant mimic spider is something new to me. I've seen three of them in my yard in Montrose MN. |
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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Synemosyna formica (ant mimic) - Jumping Spider |
About
Uploaded on Nov 26, 2010 female Synemosyna formica jumping spider; this ant mimic is shown preparing a leaf for a shelter |
Antlike Jumping Spider Synemosyna formica |
About
Published on Apr 27, 2015 Jumping spider |
Visitor Sightings |
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Alfredo Colon |
Location: Albany, NY |
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Alfredo Colon |
Location: Albany, NY |
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Alfredo Colon |
Location: Albany, NY |
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| Alfredo Colon 8/7/2022 |
Location: Albany, NY These ant mimics were more numerous than real ants....incredible. |
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| Alfredo Colon 8/6/2022 |
Location: Albany, NY |
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| Alfredo Colon 6/2/2021 |
Location: Woodbury, Minnesota One of my Wish List insects for MN was an ant mimic jumping spider and I got it. I think this is the Slender Ant-Mimicking Jumping Spider, Synemosyna formica. When I shot it I really believed it was ant.....until I saw the enlarged photo in the camera. The photos were taken on June 2, 2021 in Wooodbury, MN. By the way, the photo with the white/pink background is the ant on top of a flower petal. |
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Ray Staus |
Location: Vermillion, MN |
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| Siri 10/31/2019 |
Location: Eagan MN Measured about 3mm in length.. |
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| Terry Hayes 10/4/2015 |
Location: Montrose MN Hi, I see you could use a few more spider pictures on your website. I have a lot of jumping spider pix, but this ant mimic spider is something new to me. I've seen three of them in my yard in Montrose MN. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: 10/23/2015 Last Updated: © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved. |