A few days ago, I again explored the small forest in the village to hunt for photos of insects and spiders. That afternoon, I didn't find too many interesting objects, until finally my eyes fell on a unique spider hiding behind green leaves. The body shape is long with even longer legs, typical of spiders from the genus Tetragnatha. After I looked closely, I was sure this was Tetragnatha montana, a species of jumping spider that is known to be quite aggressive.
I was ready to take photos. However, just as the camera got closer, the spider immediately jumped! My reflexes went back a little, I didn't expect him to react so quickly. I tried again, this time with slower movements. But it turns out, this little guy really doesn't like being approached—he jumped again in a different direction, as if warning, "Don't come too close, human!"
I didn't give up. I started following his movements, trying to find the right angle. After several failed attempts because he kept moving, I finally found a moment where he was a little still.
Quickly, I focused the lens and took several photos. The results are quite satisfying! I managed to capture the details of its slender body, the unique pattern of its back, and its legs which are filled with small spines.
From this experience, I can say that Tetragnatha montana is not an easy spider to photograph. Apart from being aggressive, he is also very agile and responsive to movements around him. This is most likely their natural defense mechanism from predators. Interestingly, this species usually lives around water or damp areas.
After taking a few pictures, I let the spider continue its activities. He slowly returned to his original position, hiding behind the leaves. Maybe he was tired of my presence constantly bothering him.
For friends who like photographing spiders, if you encounter Tetragnatha montana, get ready for a challenge! This spider will not sit still and wait to be photographed, so it takes patience and strategy to get a good picture.
NOTE: I first wrote the article above in Indonesian, which is my own language, then I translated it using English with the help of Goggle.
