Image of an accurate ant-mimicking spider (Myrmarachne macleayana, left) and putative ant model (Polyrhachis robsoni, right). Spiders are just as good at mimicking ants as other insects are.

The ant-spider deceives its mark by resembling a predator, to cause unwarranted alarm. As Nelson and Robert say, it’s a “sheep in wolf’s clothing”. Reference: Nelson, X., & Jackson, R. (2009).

By looking like — but not perfectly imitating — the ants, this makes it what the researchers call an imperfect mimic. But that imperfection is enough to fool one of the jumping spider’s most ...

They found several of the orange critters along with one ant species that the spider mimics. To the untrained eye, the spiders resemble ants because of their similar size, color and shape.

A newly discovered species of fungus takes control of cave-dwelling spiders in Ireland and Northern Ireland, similar to the exploding zombie ant fungus that inspired The Last of Us.