Get your Spidey senses tingling! Discover the vibrant world of spiders and the innovative research being done at the University of Florida to learn more about the arachnids’ surprisingly good vision. High-resolution images showcase tiny jumping spiders in all their colorful splendor, and some of these species are smaller than a Q-tip! Come see the distinctive dances these tiny creatures do to find a mate. Display cases highlight some of the tools and experiments scientists use to uncover the spiders’ mating and feeding habits, including unique tests involving makeup, paints and toothpicks. Learn more about these underappreciated animals with videos of professor Lisa Taylor from the Taylor Lab, including one from the show “Life In Color with David Attenborough” that is narrated by the renowned biologist and presenter.
Jumping spiders tend to only be a few millimeters in size, which makes it difficult for humans to see their bright colors. This species, Habronattus americanus, is smaller than a Q-tip and uses red to attract mates with courtship displays. Photo courtesy of Colin Hutton
Lisa Taylor applies black eyeliner on a sedated male jumping spider. This experiment helps scientists understand which colors make males more attractive to females and which aspects of their courtship display matters most. Photo courtesy of Tyler Jones
A male paradise jumping spider dances for a female, showing off his brilliant colors. Photo courtesy of Colin Hutton
Another species of jumping spider, Phidippus tyrelli, strikes a pose as part of its mating ritual. Photo courtesy of Colin Hutton
The exhibit also displays other animals that use bright colors as signals to predators, like this toxic candy-striped leafhopper. Photo courtesy of Colin Hutton
Colors of love and war:
Learn how scientists use eyeliner and paint to find out what colors that jumping spiders are attracted to in their mates and in their search for food.
Behind the scenes:
Videos of Lisa Taylor, assistant research scientist in UF’s entomology and nematology department, show experiments in action and highlight the behaviors of jumping spiders.
Female spiders only need to mate once to produce a lifetime of viable eggs.
Jumping spiders have exceptional vision. Some of them are particularly attentive to red and orange shades when foraging and looking for mates.
Male jumping spiders are usually brightly colored, while females tend to be brown and gray to help with camouflage in their surroundings.
Acknowledgements
All images and videos in the “Colorful Dancing Spiders” exhibit were provided by Colin Hutton unless otherwise credited. This research was funded in part by the National Science Foundation.
