Up Close with Nature: Jumping Spider Life Cycle

Life cycle documentation for a Viciria sp. jumping spider family I came across recently, in chronological order: from eggs, to newly hatched to after first molting (first instar). Not a complete one, I know, but I am more interested in the initial stages.

All images taken with 40D, Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5X Macro Lens ,Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite Flash and DIY Concave Diffuser.

Jan 21, 2012, 10:36pm.

Viciria sp. female jumping spider with her precious eggs.

Viciria sp. jumping spider mom with her precious eggs IMG_9586 copy

January 26, 2012, 1.29pm

Some of the eggs had hatched. Some hadn't though. Click image to view bigger version.

newly hatched Viciria sp. spiderlings IMG_9994 copy

Green, translucent and cute :)

A higher magnification shot of the cuties. Approx. 2X life size i think.

Even closer, approximately 4X life size.

January 31, 2012 at 8.21pm

Mom was still around.

Viciria sp. Salticidae Viciria sp. jumping spiderIMG_0326 copy

Viciria sp. salticidae spiderlings IMG_0310 copy

A closer look at the cute Viciria sp. spiderlings

February 2, 2012 at 4.01pm

First instar Viciria sp. spiderling.

This spiderling had already molted! The eyes were developed. There were hairs on the cephalothorax. The baby fat was gone and the abdomen was much slimmer compared to unmolted ones.

first instar Viciria sp. spiderling IMG_0427 copy

The exuvia. You will see these in some of the following images.

exuvia of molted Viciria sp. spiderling IMG_0402 copy

I wondered why mom was still around even after the spiderlings had molted. But I think i found the answer in the next image. Pardon the poor IQ. From a point and shoot camera.

Viciria sp. jumping spider mom with her spiderlings R0016595 copy

The answer can be found in this image.

First instars (molted once) Viciria sp. spiderlings. Not all though. If you look carefully, you will see that two of them hadn't molted yet! Can you point out which two?