Jumping Spiders Recruit Ant Bodyguards

 Science, March 2014

For the jumping spider, it pays to live in a dangerous neighborhood. Researchers have discovered that wild Philippine jumping spiders (Phintella piantensis) erect their web-spun homes directly above nests of spider-eating weaver ants. Because weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) enjoy snacking on jumping spiders, as seen in the above photo, the team wondered why the spiders would move in so close to their natural enemy.