Makeup fails to solve mystery of why jumping spiders have back stripes

Scientists were surprised by results of painting eyeliner on shells of jumping spiders to change their appearance

Researchers have come up with an ingenious way to test the theory that male jumping spiders have evolved colourful stripes to ward off predators - they have put makeup on them.

Unlike the females of the species, the male Habronattus pyrrithrix come in vivid hues to attract mates. But scientists writing in the journal Royal Society Open Science wanted to establish whether their bright, striped backs help protect them from predators.