The mimics and the mimicked. Note how the spider and the beetle not only are reddish brown with black at posterior end but they both have two white perpendicular dashes that separate these colors. These white dashes probably make them look like they have a waist like the carpenter ant.
I observed these today on a hike at a local state park. Species names are in the alt tags.
I saw one of these beetles for the first time in my backyard a few weeks ago. I was impressed at how much it mimicked an ant!
@rspfau I love how the spider's front legs are short, looking like antennae. I had to peer quite closely to see that this wasn't an ant!