Jumping spider chases laser light

[tonypace2009]

This little spider chased my laser light across the ceiling and down the wall. At one time it even jumped from the ceiling down the wall to catch the light. This is also how I caught it. I took a few pictures and
Released it. Does anybody recognize what type of jumping spider this is? I never seen one with this coloration but it is a beautiful spider.
YouTube http://youtu.be/viK1-1cDJCM

 

[Ciphor]

Phidippus sp. in the mystaceus group if I had to guess. More photos of different angles might help confirm an ID.

 

[Silberrücken]

Hi Tony.

Nice catch (& release)! I believe the jumper is a female Phidippus regius. They have so many different color variations. The males of Phidippus regius look like P. audax. Great spiders to have around, as evidenced by you playing with it. They are suckers for laser lights, LOL.

Looking at the legs, it is quite possible that it IS in the mystaceus group. Hmmm....

 

[Ciphor]

Hi Tony.

Nice catch (& release)! I believe the jumper is a female Phidippus regius. They have so many different color variations. The males of Phidippus regius look like P. audax. Great spiders to have around, as evidenced by you playing with it. They are suckers for laser lights, LOL.

Looking at the legs, it is quite possible that it IS in the mystaceus group. Hmmm....

True, legs lean that way, but don't count your ID speculation out completely. Such a variable group of spiders, you can never be sure without a microscope.

The morphological feature that tips me towards mystaceus group is actually the black median strip on the posterior carapace. I do not think I have seen that on anything in the otiosus group. Not even the hybrids. http://bugguide.net/node/view/159344/bgimage
http://bugguide.net/node/view/486097/bgimage
http://bugguide.net/node/view/272006/bgimage

But a few species in the mystaceus group exhibit similar median strips on the posterior carapace (varying colors and size/shape of stripe).
http://bugguide.net/node/view/140197/bgimage
http://bugguide.net/node/view/130239/bgimage
http://bugguide.net/node/view/340573/bgimage

 

[tonypace2009]

Thanks I released it back in my room so hopefully we will meet again and I can take more pictures.

 

[Toogledoo]

Lol loved the video! Now I've got to go find a jumping spider to try it on.

 

[Spepper]

Oh wow. That is hilarious!! I knew the laser worked on cats and dogs, but I never thought of trying it with a bug. I guess because where I live there aren't too many big predatory bugs.

---------- Post added 07-23-2013 at 06:11 PM ----------

My signature is very true here.

 

[Lucidd]

Awesome video and beautiful spider.

 

[MrCrackerpants]

This little spider chased my laser light across the ceiling and down the wall. At one time it even jumped from the ceiling down the wall to catch the light. This is also how I caught it. I took a few pictures and
Released it. Does anybody recognize what type of jumping spider this is? I never seen one with this coloration but it is a beautiful spider.
YouTube http://youtu.be/viK1-1cDJCM

So cool. I have never heard of this. I am wondering if it will work with other types of spiders. What if the light is a green laser light? I need to try this. thanks! : )

 

[tonypace2009]

I discovered this by curiosity . I just got through playing with my cat she loves to chase the laser and looked up on the ceiling
And there it was. So curiosity got the better of me and I aimed a few inches in front of the spider and got an imidate response.
Originally I was under the impression that spiders didn't see red light but the jumping spider seems to have better vision than most spiders. By watching the spider pounce and land right on the laser light shows it deffently sees the red laser very well.
My favorite part of the vidio is when it anchors a jump line and jumps about 5" inches down the wall.

 

[MrCrackerpants]

I discovered this by curiosity . I just got through playing with my cat she loves to chase the laser and looked up on the ceiling
And there it was. So curiosity got the better of me and I aimed a few inches in front of the spider and got an imidate response.
Originally I was under the impression that spiders didn't see red light but the jumping spider seems to have better vision than most spiders. By watching the spider pounce and land right on the laser light shows it deffently sees the red laser very well.
My favorite part of the vidio is when it anchors a jump line and jumps about 5" inches down the wall.

Yes, good point. Jumping spiders do have better eye sight. I need to try this with a few Ts.

 

[tonypace2009]

Yes, good point. Jumping spiders do have better eye sight. I need to try this with a few Ts.

I tried earlier on some of my Ts no go. Thought the best chance would be on my Arboreal Aviculria versicolor also a no go. I figured my arboreal had slightly better vision but no response. Out of 8 Ts not a single response .

 

[ZergFront]

Yup, that is a P.regius red color form. I bought some about two years ago.

 

[Ciphor]

Yup, that is a P.regius red color form. I bought some about two years ago.

What about that image makes you so certain?

 

[stewstew8282]

wonder if as suggested by MrCrackerPants a green light would elicit a response, since it has been confirmed T's do not see red very well.














Someone go buy a green laser and try this...........