November 14, 2008: Ants

xoxoxoBruce · 11-14-2008, 12:24 AM

Look at these two ants, a female and a male.

Aren't they wonderfully efficient creations... strong, streamlined, and quick to scamper on those eight legs. Eight legs?

Hah, fooled you, they're Spiders, Myrmarachne plataleoides, to be exact.

Quote:

The spiders live in trees and bushes where the weaver ants live in colonies. By mimicking the ants they are able to stay close to them and gain protection from predators. Since weaver ants have a painful bite and also taste bad, this strategy appears to be successful. Though these spiders mimic the weaver ants very well they are known to stay away from them. They weave a thin web on leaves, hide under their webbing and ambush their prey.

The Kerengga Ant-like Jumper also mimics ant-like behaviour by the style of locomotion and also by the way they wave their front legs like antennae to mimic the ants. These jumping-spiders jump only when their safety is threatened.

Damn, ya can't even trust ants these days.

Link

Aliantha · 11-14-2008, 12:33 AM

What's with all the insecty things?

Scriveyn · 11-14-2008, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aliantha

What's with all the insecty things?

Is it ... antici.....pation?

Aliantha · 11-14-2008, 02:34 AM

lol...nice one.

Antimatter · 11-14-2008, 03:27 AM

Probably just a mutANT

newtimer · 11-14-2008, 04:22 AM

"...weaver ants have a painful bite and also taste bad..."

What? Spiders are so delicious that they have to pretend to be ants? Why am I just finding this out now? Quick! Somebody give me a spider recipe.

sweetwater · 11-14-2008, 05:58 AM

Oh! what a tangled web we weave
When first we practice to deceive!
Maybe these spiders were the inspiration for Scott's verse? Thanks for the day-brightener, Bruce. I love weird nature. What an amazing little planet we have here!

spudcon · 11-14-2008, 06:36 AM

As long as they stay in the jungle, and not my house, I won't squash them.

11-14-2008, 08:09 AM

I wonder how many ants the typical male dry-humps before finding a female spider?

Shawnee123 · 11-14-2008, 08:10 AM

I immediately wondered about the 8 legs.

Another critter for my nightmares.

SquidGirl · 11-14-2008, 08:44 AM

I'm okay with ants, no concerns. Spiders I'm usually ok with provided they aren't on me or hovering around me. Their little spiders masquerading as ants....heck, it works on me apparently, too. I looked at the pic and was thinking, "hmmm....wierd ants....okay...." Apparently I'm as easily fooled as their predators. LOL

Gravdigr · 11-14-2008, 08:50 AM

HungLikeJesus · 11-14-2008, 09:01 AM

Look, cute animal pictures in the IOTD. It must be Friday.

Trilby · 11-14-2008, 09:59 AM

Spiders in disguises. Just another reason to hate them.

xoxoxoBruce · 11-14-2008, 11:14 AM

Forgot it was Friday.
Should have gotten a more cute and cuddly image for today.
Here ya go.

Better? It's a baby Muntjac Deer...

to BBQ. :p

11-14-2008, 12:33 AM	#2
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	What's with all the insecty things? __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

11-14-2008, 02:34 AM	#4
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	lol...nice one. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

11-14-2008, 05:58 AM	#7
sweetwater lives inside a Mobius strip Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,120	Oh! what a tangled web we weave When first we practice to deceive! Maybe these spiders were the inspiration for Scott's verse? Thanks for the day-brightener, Bruce. I love weird nature. What an amazing little planet we have here! __________________ I knew I shoulda taken that left turn at Albuquerque! - Bugs Bunny

11-14-2008, 06:36 AM	#8
spudcon Beware of potatoes Join Date: May 2007 Location: Upstate NY, USA Posts: 2,078	As long as they stay in the jungle, and not my house, I won't squash them. __________________ "I believe that being despised by the despicable is as good as being admired by the admirable."

11-14-2008, 08:10 AM	#10
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I immediately wondered about the 8 legs. Another critter for my nightmares. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

11-14-2008, 03:27 AM	#5
Antimatter Belt Conveyor Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 68	Probably just a mutANT

11-14-2008, 04:22 AM	#6
newtimer Operations Operative Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 479	"...weaver ants have a painful bite and also taste bad..." What? Spiders are so delicious that they have to pretend to be ants? Why am I just finding this out now? Quick! Somebody give me a spider recipe.

11-14-2008, 08:09 AM	#9
aero geek Guest Posts: n/a	I wonder how many ants the typical male dry-humps before finding a female spider?

11-14-2008, 08:44 AM	#11
SquidGirl Colloquialist Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cavern in Mount Pleasant, MI Posts: 79	I'm okay with ants, no concerns. Spiders I'm usually ok with provided they aren't on me or hovering around me. Their little spiders masquerading as ants....heck, it works on me apparently, too. I looked at the pic and was thinking, "hmmm....wierd ants....okay...." Apparently I'm as easily fooled as their predators. LOL

11-14-2008, 08:50 AM	#12
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	__________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

11-14-2008, 09:01 AM	#13
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	Look, cute animal pictures in the IOTD. It must be Friday. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

11-14-2008, 09:59 AM	#14
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Spiders in disguises. Just another reason to hate them. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

11-14-2008, 11:14 AM	#15
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Forgot it was Friday. Should have gotten a more cute and cuddly image for today. Here ya go. Better? It's a baby Muntjac Deer... to BBQ. :p __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

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