Spiders are scared of ants due to the formic acid they contain.
A University of Canterbury expert says many insects, and also most spiders, are afraid of ants and run for their lives if they encounter myrmarachne melanotarsa, a gregarious jumping spider that pretends to be an ant.
The jumping spider myrmarachne melanotarsa looks like, acts like, and hangs out with ants, even forming mini colony-type gangs to foil their own predators. But most spiders are afraid of ants, and they even fear these fake ants that are really spiders.
The university’s biological sciences lecturer Dr Ximena Nelson, who is one of the world’s leading experts on spiders and ants, says more than 300 species of spider mimic ants which are very dangerous to spiders.
"Ants are social and can mount a strong response if alerted to potential danger. They are extremely lethal to many spiders. Many ants also contain formic acid, which they can use for defence by squirting it on potential predators, causing considerable harm.
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