Peacock Spider – Your Next Macro Photography Subject?

Who ever thought that spiders could be so colorful and interesting? If you are afraid of spiders, then let this cute and adorable peacock spider help you overcome your fears with his impressive peacock spider dance moves!

By the end of the video, we couldn’t stop ourselves from waving our hands wildly up in the air with the camera in our hands! If you want to find out why… watch the video by Jürgen Otto below!

Before you sit back to enjoy the show, here is some background information on the little peacock spider –

Peacock Spider Dance (Source: J. Otto)

The Peacock spider or Gliding spider (Maratus volans) is a species of jumping spider.

The red, blue and black colored males have flap-like extensions of the abdomen with white hairs that can be folded down. They are used for display during mating: the male raises his abdomen, then expands and raises the flaps so that the abdomen forms a white-fringed, circular field of color. The species, and indeed the whole genus Maratus have been compared to peacocks in this respect. The third pair of legs is also raised for display, showing a brush of black hairs and white tips. While approaching the female, the male will vibrate his abdomen while waving raised legs and tail, and dance from side to side.

Both sexes reach about 5 mm in body length. Females and immatures of both sexes are brown but have colour patterns by which they can be distinguished from related species.

Maratus volans is confined to eastern parts of Australia (Queensland & New South Wales).

Source: Wikipedia

httpv://youtu.be/d_yYC5r8xMI

Did you notice your hands waving wildly in the air while you were watching the video? If you did, then… you are ready for your next macro photography adventure! Pack those bags and head over to Australia! The peacock spider dance is waiting for you! Click the SHARE button to share it with all your family and friends!

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