Ant-mimicking Jumping Spider

Description:

Salticidae; Salticinae; Myrmaplata; M. plataleoides (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1869). This is a male Myrmaplata plataleoides which mimics Red Weaver Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) according to Wikipedia. Their overall body shape and the way that they raise their front legs to mimic antennae present a pretty good impression of the ants. The black spots on both sides of its head also serve as ant-like eyes. But, there is one little problem. How does it get away with those monstrous grotesque chelicerae. Even in the folded position as shown in my single photo, it seems to be a dead give-away. Wikipedia explains: "The males give the appearance of a weaver ant carrying a minor worker due to their elongated chelicerae which may be as long as one-third to half their body length". Its astounding, but it obviously works. All I can say is that the ants must be rather dim-witted to fall for such an outrageous ploy.

Habitat:

This Myrmaplata plataleoides was spotted on a Button Orchid (Dischidia nummularia) in our front yard.