Why are versicolor slings blue?

[greensleeves]

Why are versicolor slings blue when all the other avic slings look essentially the same?

Any ideas?

Greensleeves

 

[Lostkat]

I can't answer your question, but they're not the only Avic slings who aren't pinky-coloured. A. purpurea are also a different colour, a rather dark foresty green. I think they're really pretty

My purp just moulted today though... I can't decide what colour he is at the moment. A cross between green and greyish blue I think Waiting for him to harden up so I can take pics

My versi is also losing his bright blue and getting his adult colours now

 

[deifiler]

Study the native lands of this species, that should provide you with some leads.

On my first guess I'd say blue relates to "don't eat me! I'm poisonus!" For birds and other visual-orientated predators that may otherwise prey on these tiny spiders. Perhaps researching the regions of this bug and the predators would give greater insight.

If you meant why as in 'what actually creates this colouration?' I can't say, though the limited knowledge I do know on this topic is that the white pigmentation within spiders such as the araneus diadematus are guanine cells shining through the spiders cuticle. These guanine cells act as 'storage' sites for metabolites, which are stored in a crystal like form, if that makes sense. Possibly different minerals or different metabolites stored within these resorptive cells provide a different colouration. It's something I'd be interested in learning. I'll get onto it on monday and keep you updated, unless someone else can elaborate/correct my points which would be great.

 

[Phillip]

Avicularia laeta starts out blue also.

Phil

 

[Bry]

Why is the sky blue?

Bry