The Raider

[Ironwood]

Cosmophasis bitaeniata (Keyserling, 1882) Green Tree Ant Cosmophasis

A jumping spider found in New Guinea, Australia and Micronesia. Cosmophasis bitaeniata is a myrmecophilic associate of the green tree ant, Oecophylla smaragdina. The abundance of C. bitaeniata on a tree or shrub is positively correlated with the number of nests of O. smaragdina on that vegetation. Experiments with captive spiders confirmed that the spiders prey on the larvae by removing them from the mandibles of minor workers. C. bitaeniataavoids direct contact with major workers of O. smaragdina in daylight. It is thought C. bitaeniata may be an exploitative chemical mimic of its host. (Rachel A. Allan and Mark A. Elgar Australian Journal of Zoology 49(2) 129 - 137)

Quoted from arachne.org.com



This large male was busy raiding from the Green Ants, the Ants were backing away from it, very wary. I have watched smaller Spiders of the same species amongst the Green Ants, they spend most of their time running away from the Ants.

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[Ironwood]

.....and some more....

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#8

[sejac]

Technically, and aesthetically, excellent work Brad. A real pleasure to view.

I love the detail presented, and the beautiful compositions.

The 'eye contact' in the final shot is special. Can you even have eye contact with a spider?

[Ironwood]

Thanks for your comments Charles, much appreciated.

As for the eye contact, well I think you can. After spending time photographing these little fellas, I think they have pretty good eyesight, especially out of their bigger eyes at the front.
They can be real characters at times. I usually grip the leaf they are on with my left hand, and line them up in the lens at the position I want, while moving the camera in and out to achieve focus, sometimes the little buggers will turn their back on you, move the leaf to get them front on again and they turn their back on you again, this can go on for 5 minutes sometimes.

I was lucky with this model though, he was happy to look me in the "big eye" .

[seaslug]

Ripper shots. I'm guessing the ants are feeding on the scale insects.

[Ironwood]

Cheers Greg.

It seems that was the case, they seemed to be trying to forage what they could take back to the nest, but the spider kept running in and disturbing them. From what I can gather, their (spider) main diet is Green Ant larvae, but I have seen these ones feeding on other insects as well.

[eaglem]

Beautifully coloured and sharp as a tack.

[Alan]

Can't add much more - wonderful series with interesting info.

Dedication and skill come together to record something special and seldom seen by most of us

Cheers

[Ironwood]

Eaglem and Alan, thanks for looking and commenting

[Jurujoh]

Some very nice macros

Jules

[Ironwood]

Thanks Jules

[Isac]

What they all said! absolutely brilliant series. #8 takes the cake and the Isac Wall Hanger Award for January.

[Ironwood]

Well thanks Isac. I am humbled to receive such a prestigious award .