Banded Phintella (Phintella vittata)

I have moved to http://keicmacro.blogspot.com/

According to a research led by Assoc Prof Li Daiqin, Department of Biological Sciences, NUS, the phintella vittata have the ability to see ultraviolet B rays (UVB), Current Biology, Volume 18, Issue 9, 6th May 2008 

Ultraviolet B rays has shorter wavelength compared to ultraviolet A rays. Both rays penetrate the Earth's atmosphere and are harmful to human skin.

I was very lucky indeed to meet one such jumping spider near home. It's a male. The picture below is the best shot I had.

The subject is extremely difficult to photograph because it is hyperactive and has a very reflective body. It jumps from leave to leave very quickly. When view with the naked eye, the colours on its body do not look like the photograph above, but bright shiny blue. It's a tiny spider, perhaps between 3 - 4 mm body length. It is an extremely beautiful spider.

Another shot of it making web between two leafs:

With fangs slightly visible:

As you can see in the shot below, it's body reflective surface is not easy to shoot. During shooting, it jumps onto your flash light diffuser very quickly as soon as it notices it. You can place the diffuser further, however,  reflective subject always appears ugly when lights bounce back to the camera lens from that flash angle.

Thanks for visiting !