Shadow Box

This is Ernesto, the special salticid. He was a male red-back jumping spider (Phidippus johnsoni) who voluntarily followed (and stayed with) me for two months (August-October) until he died naturally of old age.

Ernesto would hang out with me anywhere in the house, as well as follow me to the bedroom every night when I slept. I helped feed and entertain him. Creepy? Immensely. But also way too awesome not to love.

Here he's seen testing the shadow my pen light created.

More Ernesto here and
here.