Beyond Webs

My jumping spider addiction began when I encountered one of the most colorful species in India visited garden, its Chrysilla volupe during lockdown. This species looked as if nature has splashed colors of galaxy. This turned into a new hobby of sitting in my garden, waiting for sightings of spiders. So, what spell do these jumping spiders cast that none of us can escape once we know of their existence.

Salticidae are visual dependent species which has evolved in such colors for communication and species identity. These colors are result of structures called as chitin on their exoskeleton which refracts light with two chitin plate layers with air in-between creating a refractive index mixed with angles of light available giving vibrant appearance. Sometimes producing iridescent colors as a result of indicating health during mating or rival situations. The more colorful, the healthier representatives of their species. Below are few example species where we can observe chitin and colors easily.

 

Harmochirus exaggeratus, Thiania bhamoensis and Icius alboterminus

With around 326 species in India and still more to be found, these spiders can be seen in almost any habitat. How do they survive anywhere? Well, they rely on two superpowers: an incredible visual adaptation that sets them apart from other spider species. Unlike other spiders Salticidae is diurnal so they depend on lights and colors. It consists of two eyes at the front called principal eyes capable of seeing colors and depth perception like human eyes. These eyes provide accurate readings of the environment for movement and precise prey distance for hunting strategies. They're also capable of recognizing patterns and shapes. 

The two front eyes are movable and have long tubular structures with multiple retinal movements consist of liquid inbetween to study the depth of the environment just like DSLR camera operation. On the other hand, the other six eyes placed sideways and behind called secondary eyes are immovable with single-layered retinas to study lights and movements that keep them alerted. Moreover, this combination of eyes can create a 3D-rendered world that we may not fully comprehend.

Four types of eye-movements are observed. These are spontaneous activity, saccades, tracking and scanning.

Jumping spiders distinguish other jumping spiders from potential prey by the geometry of their legs. It is suggested that scanning is a  pattern-recognition procedure in which the  torsional  movements are concerned with the  spatial alignment of line or edge  detectors, and the  horizontal component with providing relative motion between these detectors and the stationary stimulus

The huge diversity of this family has lead to numerous possibilites with each species having unique eye capabilities such as the range of colors they can see and some even being capable of seeing infrared. There are several ongoing studies aimed at understanding how the eyes perceive the world through various technologies and experiments.

One of Indian species that really has beautiful eyebrow is Icius alboterminus. These are hairs used for sensory purposes, such hairs can be seen in various parts of the body but on head they are rarely seen like in Hyllus where they really resemble horns.

Icius alboterminus

They stalk their prey with beautiful puppy eyes, studying their behavior until they see an opportunity to pounce. But how far can they jump? Here comes their next weapon: hydraulic pressure, the jumper’s ultimate trick. It's a whole lot of science, but in simple terms they control their blood flow and contract muscles in their legs to create the force for the jump from where they stand. They've mastered this skill not only for hunting but also to evade predators in an instant. However, it seems they've mastered jumping but not necessarily landing always.

 Aelurillini tribe not recorded yet.

After catching the prey, they give a "love bite" with the venom from their vampire fangs to liquefy and extract the protein juices like other spiders.

Indopadilla sp.

Each species has own set of hunting techniques such as basic hunters like Wall jumper and heavy bodied jumper mostly stalks and position themselves around the prey’s blind spot and approaching like an army solider till they can reach as close as possible and make a final leap on the target.

Hyllus Semicuprues female

Some use shadows to ambush prey, Plexippus tends to hide themselves in shadow like pipelines or anything that blocks sunlight so they can stalk on house flies, wait for the moment to launch themselves midair. so they just simply jump? Of course not, the spider is smart enough to do the aftermath and before they jump on their prey, they secure a silk dragline from abdomen so they can retrieve themselves back to point zero.

Plexippus sp.

Some inject venom on ants and wait till they lose conscious like Langona in grasslands and Siler in western ghats.

Siler Semiglaucus

In the forests of the Western Ghats, there are hunters that take their skills to whole new levels like Portia. Belonging to the Sparassidae family, these spiders have super brains that set them apart from others as they have been the hunter’s nightmare. They study their enemy and come up with an idea to take them down, regardless of size.

Portia is everyone’s favorite as they look like wearing warrior armor who blends in surroundings, mostly found in hills which is almost hundred kilometers from my home so I have seen only few times. As I usually shoot within fifty-kilometer radius and almost three years as Arachnophile where there is nothing i haven’t recorded yet sighted Portia only once that too in front of my home.

Portia sp.

Portia labiata.

The whole concept of web silks for spiders is to use that as radar like hearing aid through vibration, to catch prey and protect. But our master hunter either mimic prey caught in silk with legs or sometimes navigate through this complex web structure to strike from behind. This happened near the ceiling which I had to do stunts to capture.

Similar to Portia hunting there is Brettus cingulatus leaping its legs towards orb-weaver web, mimicking the movements of an insect trapped in the web to lure the resident spider towards him

Brettus cingulatus female

This both species have long arms to reach web structures and most importantly for hunting bigger foes. One specific move they have in common is whenever they sense danger they go into sort of meditative state. They just stop moving around and sit in sage mode mostly trying to blend in until they figure out what the unknown threat is upon them, as running will only make them a meal.This is also how they rest mostly.

Many spiders adopt the colors of their environment as a safety camouflage to blend in and hunt while there are artists of Salticidae who take April fool’s day very seriously like every day. Belonging to Myrmarachne genus, this spider avoids its predator by resembling morphology of ants such as colors and elongated slender body. This is Batesian mimics of ants, its usual many species other than spider have attained this trait for survival.

Myrmarachne prava

Myrmarachne melanocephala (Bicolor Ant Mimick Jumping Spider)

Myrmaplata plataleoide (Red Weaver Ant-mimicking Spider)

Though females could bring near perfection of ant looks but males have hard time adapting the mandibles as they stand out with elongated mouth parts but Myrmaplata plataleoides comes with an idea of drawing ant’s eyes on it.

Taking the morphological characteristics of ant is not enough but also making sure the enemies buys the play, so they also developed behavioral characteristics like walking movements of ants to blend in with ant population. The spider who has eight legs imitates ants with six legs and two antennae. This could be spider’s among us game, ant’s antenna used for studying environment like detecting the chemical pheromones. To mimic this behavior, spiders wave their forelegs which could be quiet imperfect as I have observed ant’s antenna movements are random and independent whereas spider’s waves are smooth up and down movements due to limitation of structural muscle. Here is how good they blend.

Jumping spiders are active hunters throughout the day. They often rest on leaves or any nearby surface, where they may also construct web structures as a safety measure. These webs serve a dual purpose: providing protection when they rest and aiding in defense when they have a nest. This strategy helps them safeguard themselves from predators, particularly during the night.

Some species like those from the Aelurillina genus from grasslands, use underside rocks as shelters at night but finding a dry leaf is luxury hotel.

Pellenes sp.

Phlegra davidi

They navigate like characters in an 8-bit game who can accelerate and jump rapidly, featuring scanning cameras and hydraulic legs, controlled by a consciousness that enables problem solving and pest elimination. They may sound like robot, but also capable of communicating through a unique language of love (Gemstones of Grassland) making them true masterpieces crafted by Mother Nature.Even though Jumping spiders are not as big as our fingernails, they still create an unmatched universe of their own with endless surprises.