Synemosyna formica (Salticidae) is one of North America's most convincing ant mimics.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
Synemosyna formica (Salticidae) is one of North America's most convincing ant mimics.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
Synemosyna formica, a jumping spider, is one of North America's most convincing ant-mimics.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
Synemosyna formica a jumping spider.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
This Central American corinnid spider mimics the common ant Dolichoderus bispinosus.

Armenia, Belize
The spider Sphecotypus niger is an astonishingly accurate mimic of Pachycondyla villosa, both in form and in movement. The resemblance presumably protects the spider from predators, as its ant model has an extraordinarily painful sting.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
This harmless African jumping spider mimics the form, color, and movement of Tetraponera mocquerysi, an ant with a painful sting.

Kibale forest, Uganda
The delicate build and sabre-like pedipalps of this Brazilian corinnid spider help it to mimic the painfully-stinging trap-jaw ants of the genus Odontomachus.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
Face-to-face with a corinnid mimic of the common ant Dolichoderus bispinosus.

Armenia, Belize
Synemosyna formica (Salticidae) is one of North America's most convincing ant mimics.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
Synemosyna formica (Salticidae) is one of North America's most convincing ant mimics.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
Synemosyna formica (Salticidae) is one of North America's most convincing ant mimics.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013