My not so good take on the portia spiders.... A little bit disappointed on the result.
Settings as follows. F29-40. Shutter speed 1/60-1/200. ISO 125-200. Shot handheld
A short description of the Portia Spider
A family of 17 intelligent athletes, all called Portia and with eight legs apiece.
Found jumping around parts of Africa, Asia and Australasia, the Portia Spider eats other spiders. Her favourite prey is web-builders and she is sufficiently fearless (or greedy) to hunt those of more than 200% her own size.
Unlike all the other arachnids, Portia behaves in a way that can only be described as intelligent. She adapts her hunting methods to increase the likelihood of a square meal and seems able to learn new techniques.
Once she has invaded a web, Portia demonstrates considerable acting talent as she feigns the struggle of a trapped insect. Noting what encourages her target to come closer, Portia will repeat her best moves for up to three days, until she can overwhelm her victim.
Eyes with telephoto lenses enable Portia to identify which combat tactic is most likely to be successful against her prey. Encountering a deadly spitting spider, Portia will approach from the rear to avoid its predatory potential. When her opponent is carrying eggs, she approaches head-on.
OK, so only half of all Portia spiders are female but she lives longer. During mating, a female Portia assumes the superior position. Then, she twists around and lunges at the mister, killing him. If he dies before copulation is complete, she will remove his sperm before eating him. If he finishes before death, the she-Portia will keep his sperm for fertilization and, with her days work done, settle down to dine on her lover.
Doesn’t she make you feel ….glad to be a woman?
Some info on this female portia spider:
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/spiders/text/Portia_labiata.htm
#1 It was found on a pile of thrash when first shot
#2 It crawls to my palm
#3 Close up
#4 Side view of it
Settings as follows. F29-40. Shutter speed 1/60-1/200. ISO 125-200. Shot handheld
A short description of the Portia Spider
A family of 17 intelligent athletes, all called Portia and with eight legs apiece.
Found jumping around parts of Africa, Asia and Australasia, the Portia Spider eats other spiders. Her favourite prey is web-builders and she is sufficiently fearless (or greedy) to hunt those of more than 200% her own size.
Unlike all the other arachnids, Portia behaves in a way that can only be described as intelligent. She adapts her hunting methods to increase the likelihood of a square meal and seems able to learn new techniques.
Once she has invaded a web, Portia demonstrates considerable acting talent as she feigns the struggle of a trapped insect. Noting what encourages her target to come closer, Portia will repeat her best moves for up to three days, until she can overwhelm her victim.
Eyes with telephoto lenses enable Portia to identify which combat tactic is most likely to be successful against her prey. Encountering a deadly spitting spider, Portia will approach from the rear to avoid its predatory potential. When her opponent is carrying eggs, she approaches head-on.
OK, so only half of all Portia spiders are female but she lives longer. During mating, a female Portia assumes the superior position. Then, she twists around and lunges at the mister, killing him. If he dies before copulation is complete, she will remove his sperm before eating him. If he finishes before death, the she-Portia will keep his sperm for fertilization and, with her days work done, settle down to dine on her lover.
Doesn’t she make you feel ….glad to be a woman?
Some info on this female portia spider:
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/spiders/text/Portia_labiata.htm
#1 It was found on a pile of thrash when first shot
#2 It crawls to my palm
#3 Close up
#4 Side view of it
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