Page 102 - For Men of Understanding

CAMOUFLAGE TECHNIQUE OF THE ANTS

If you were asked what you see in the above picture, you would definite-
ly say, "there are some ants above and below the leaf".
However, what you see under the leaf is a jumping spider lurking to hunt
living ants. This species of the jumping spider looks so similar to the ants that
even the ants think it is one of them.
The only difference between the ant and the spider is the number of legs.
The spider has eight legs whereas the ant has six.
In order to do away with this "handicap", which will make him readily
recognised, the jumping spider stretches its two forelegs forward and lifts them
up. Thus, its two legs look exactly like the antennae of ants.
Yet, the camouflage does not consist solely of this. The animal needs also
an eye pattern that will make it seem like an ant. Its own eyes are not big and
in the shape of a dark spot like those of the ants. One feature it possesses by
birth helps it solve this problem. The spider has two big spots at the two sides
of its head. These two spots resemble the ant's eyes (notice the spots at the
sides of the spider’s head in the above picture).

On the left are two
ants and a jumping
spider. You have no
other way but to
count the legs to
find out which one
is the ant and which
one is the spider.

100 For Men of Understanding