TRUST YOUR VISION

Tufts of black hair on the head & big eyes, give this spider an expressive face. But what makes her special, is her brain & how she uses it to interpret the world:

• Jumping spider's brain-volume to body-size is proportionate to humans, but with a larger visual processing region.

• 8 eyes arranged around the head give her ~360° coverage. 2 Large front-facing eyes provide detailed 3D vision & unparalleled depth perception. The other 6 eyes provide lightning fast motion detection; the best stereoscopic vision in the arthropod business!

Using different stalking strategies for different prey, she hunts alone during the day. Watching. Approaching flies from a different angle & leaping onto caterpillars from a shorter distance. More importantly, visual acuity is invaluable for safety, especially when birds & lizards are hungry.

These iridescently fanged jumping spiders are important because they eat several pest species, including insects that damage cotton crops.

Canopy Jumping Spiders teach us to trust our vision. Literally, only trust what is happening now.

Unfortunately, we tend to observe less & assume more (eg. physically, emotionally, psychologically). This means we operate based on the past & our actions are often inadequate for the present.

• How many times have we assumed someone is mad at us & later turns out to be a simple misunderstanding?

• Who do we avoid because they did something to us years ago?

We all change on a second to second basis, unwillingness to learn anew might cause us to miss out on the amazing beings that we have now evolved into.

Ready to let the light in through your eyes? These fuzzy jumpers are prevalent around the world. Keep your eyes open to meet them in person. Don't let them be overlooked! 👀