How Do Ants Turn Into Spiders?

Ants are big predators in the insect world. They have a hierarchy based system that has evolved to serve a useful purpose. They have solitary queens and workers, as well as sharp mandibles and stingers. They defend their nests by biting and recruiting whole colonies. Despite these characteristics, some plants have forged a mutually beneficial relationship with ants.

Aside from their defensive capabilities, ants can also mimic other animal behaviors. For example, they may eat other ants to avoid a meal. Spiders have also learned to imitate ants.

In some cases, mimicry actually improves the defense of the spider. For example, the Japanese ant mimic spider produces a smell similar to the pheromones of ants.

Another common mimicry is the jumping spider. Some spiders have eight legs instead of six. This means they can jump much higher than the average jumping spider. Some can leap 50 times their body length.

In addition to the usual eight eyes, some spiders also have a strand of silk near their abdomens. This is intended to fool potential predators. They also have a large courtship ritual.

Some spiders mimic ants by raising their front legs like antennae. Scientists were originally under the impression that ant-mimicking spiders used only their rear legs. But recent research has revealed that some species use their front legs, too.

Some species of spiders also have other impressive ant-like features. For instance, the Micaria spider is slender and moves like an ant.