#moth spider

[jadafitch]

Female bolas spiders mimic the sex-pheromones of moths, luring them close enough to snag with their fishing line. A sticky blob on the end of silk thread, rather than the traditional orb web.

[mothmussy]

Spidersona🕸🕷

My canon event is gettin molly whopped by Miguel (pathetic man) O'Hara

[moxijunk]

Episode 8 festivities,,, MOTH SPIDER!!!!

[mof-rot]

Web-Wing! My Spider sona! Spider with moth aspects such as sensitive eyes, wings and attenae!

Edit: I redrew this digitally and with different colors and designs but I’m leaving this in the wild for funsies

[cloudyappleart]

prints available here. pls dm for information on tattoo permisions.

my Legend of Zelda bug collection!

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

Brenthia Moths: these moths can mimic the appearance and mannerisms of a jumping spider so convincingly that actual jumping spiders will sometimes attempt to court them

The markings, posture, and movements of a Brenthia moth (genus Brenthia, also known as a metalmark moth) all contribute to its disguise; the moths move around in short, jerky motions that mimic the movements of a jumping spider, and their hindwings are covered in black-and-white bands that strongly resemble the tucked-in legs of a salticiid spider, especially when the moth displays its unique wing position. The disguise serves as a defensive strategy, enabling the moth to avoid being preyed upon by actual jumping spiders.

In some cases, that disguise may work a little too well, as jumping spiders may actually mistake the moth for a potential mate and then attempt to engage it in a courtship/mating dance (which must be a pretty awkward and bizarre experience for the moth, tbh).

The resemblance between a Brenthia moth and a jumping spider may not seem terribly convincing to us, as human beings, but as this article explains:

When discussing animals mimicking their predator, it is important to remember that we humans are not the target audience. This means that the imitator may not look too convincing in its mimicry to us, but still manages to trigger a desired response from said predator.

Jumping spiders have also been known to respond to Brenthia moths by exhibiting a territorial display, which is yet another behavior that the spiders generally reserve for other spiders.

This study expands on the adaptive benefits of the moth's disguise:

In controlled trials, Brenthia had higher survival rates than other similarly sized moths in the presence of jumping spiders and jumping spiders responded to Brenthia with territorial displays, indicating that Brenthia were sometimes mistaken for jumping spiders, and not recognized as prey.

The illustration below shows the basic/general resemblance between a Brenthia moth and a jumping spider:

Sources & More Info:

New Scientist: Moth's Disguise is so Good, Spiders Love it Instead of Eating it

Animal Behaviour: Sheep in Wolf's Clothing

Science: This Moth Could Pass for a Spider

PLOS ONE Journal: Metalmark Moths Mimic their Jumping Spider Predators

Gil Wizen: Jumping Spider Mimicry in Brenthia Moths

Moths of North Carolina: Brenthia pavonacella

[plusie]

[somanywhales]

don’t get mad at me for my categories, listen i’m not an entomologist i just like bugs im doing my best.

i’m sorry if i forgot your bug!!

[dosiadove]

i need more friends who love bugs. I cant take telling people i love bugs and there reaction being "i hate them i kill everyone i see", or "ew" ( and then giving me a weird look. where are the bug lovers? where are my friends? let me show you my collection, lets draw insects together, lets make power points of our favorites.

[nostalgicfun]

I Spy Spooky Mansion, 1999

[hannahorca]

Monstrous Arthropods

[icedghostlatte-art]

Moth Danny!

[inkymoth101]

Decided to draw @bun0nthemoon’s OCs bc I thought they were pretty :>

[humblegrub]

sewing patterns for bugs! (pt 2)

beetle plush pattern by ApothecaryOcto

simple fabric moth/butterfly pattern by willowynn

bee plush pattern by TooStuffedPatterns

snail plush pattern by willowynn

beetle plush pattern by MasterPlush

spider plush pattern by SugarcubeCherry

minecraft bee plush pattern by HabbiesAus

snail plush pattern by Delilah Iris

butterfly / moth plush pattern by Victoria Zhuk

garden snail pattern by DragonsGardenShop

[cali-brum]

[quilbug-draws]

Enjoy some spooky-coded lads for spook day🎃✨

Acherontia atropos - African death's-head hawkmoth Alaus oculatus - Eyed Elater Beetle Cyclocosmia - Ravine Trapdoor Spider