For as long as I've lived in my current abode (circa 2002), I've had a jumping spider (probably
Hypoblemum albovittatum) hanging around my kitchen, mostly near my sink, on the Venetian blinds above it, and on the adjacent appliances.
When I see them, I talk to them as I would a pet and try to make sure my actions in the kitchen will not harm them.
Here are some photos I've taken of these adorable tiny critters (3-4 mm in body length) in the past.
Their lifespan is only 2-3 years, so it obviously wouldn't have been the same one for over two decades.
Today, I noticed them on the top of my coffee machine, and I had the pleasure of watching them interact with their reflection in the chromed base of the bean holder for several minutes.
When I first saw them, they were about 2 cm away from their reflection, and then they slowly inched (centimetred? millimetred?) forward.
When they were about 0.5 cm away, they jumped at their image, and then immediately jumped back to a "safe distance".
After a minute or so, another "attack" was mounted on the "intruder" with the same retreat.
Third time lucky! With a slower approach, they found that they could wave their pedipalps at each "other".
