Predation by ants on jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) in the Philippines

Nelson, Ximena J.; Jackson, Robert R.; Pollard, Simon D.; Edwards, G. B.; Barrion, A. T.

doi:10.1080/03014223.2004.9518358

Cited by 44 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Ants often prey on salticids (Nelson et al 2004) and, although comparable in size to typical salticid prey, ants have formidable defences, and many salticids identify ants by sight and avoid them (Nelson & Jackson 2006a), as an encounter with an ant is likely to end in the salticid's death (Nelson et al 2004). Myrmarachne is a genus of ant-like (myrmecomorphic) salticids and other salticids are also known to avoid Myrmarachne, apparently mistaking them for ants (Nelson & Jackson 2006a,b;Nelson & Jackson in press a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aggressive use of Batesian mimicry by an ant-like jumping spider

Nelson

Jackson

2009

Biol. Lett.

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Batesian and aggressive mimicry are united by deceit: Batesian mimics deceive predators and aggressive mimics deceive prey. This distinction is blurred by Myrmarachne melanotarsa , an ant-like jumping spider (Salticidae). Besides often preying on salticids, ants are well defended against most salticids that might target them as potential prey. Earlier studies have shown that salticids identify ants by their distinctive appearance and avoid them. They also avoid ant-like salticids from the genus Myrmarachne. Myrmarachne melanotarsa is an unusual species from this genus because it typically preys on the eggs and juveniles of ant-averse salticid species. The hypothesis considered here is that, for M. melanotarsa , the distinction between Batesian and aggressive mimicry is blurred. We tested this by placing female Menemerus sp. and their associated hatchling within visual range of M. melanotarsa , its model, and various non-ant-like arthropods. Menemerus is an ant-averse salticid species. When seeing ants or ant mimics, Menemerus females abandoned their broods more frequently than when seeing non-ant-like arthropods or in control tests (no arthropods visible), as predicted by our hypothesis that resembling ants functions as a predatory ploy.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aggressive use of Batesian mimicry by an ant-like jumping spider

Nelson

Jackson

2009

Biol. Lett.

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“…Ants are notorious for both their abundance and their formidable defences [6], and it may not be surprising to find that among ant mimics there is considerable variation in form, ranging from accurate to imprecise mimicry. What is unusual is that here we have an example of a mimic resembling one of its own predators [28,29].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The question of interest in this study is whether accuracy of ant mimicry, as judged by humans, is reflected in predator behaviour. The answer is of significance because most salticids will readily prey on each other [27], yet most salticids also appear to avoid ants [4], encounters with which are often lethal to salticids, including Myrmarachne [28,29]. Clearly, it is also pertinent to determine how nonhuman animals classify objects and to determine the differences (or not) that may be found according to very different visual systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Predator's Perspective of the Accuracy of Ant Mimicry in Spiders

Nelson

2012

Psyche: A Journal of Entomology

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Among spiders, resemblance of ants (myrmecomorphy) usually involves the Batesian mimicry, in which the spider coopts the morphological and behavioural characteristics of ants to deceive ant-averse predators. Nevertheless, the degree of resemblance between mimics and ants varies considerably. I used Portia fimbriata, a jumping spider (Salticidae) with exceptional eyesight that specialises on preying on salticids, to test predator perception of the accuracy of ant mimicry. Portia fimbriata's response to ants (Oecophylla smaragdina), accurate ant-like salticids (Synageles occidentalis), and inaccurate ant-like salticids (females of Myrmarachne bakeri and sexually dimorphic males of M. bakeri, which have enlarged chelicerae) was assessed. Portia fimbriata exhibited graded aversion in accordance with the accuracy of resemblance to ants (O. smaragdina > S. occidentalis > female M. bakeri > male M. bakeri). These results support the hypothesis that ant resemblance confers protection from visual predators, but to varying degrees depending on signal accuracy.

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“…Instead, certain ants treat jumping spiders as potential prey. Some ants readily attacked and killed jumping spiders in laboratory conditions [27]. Halaj et al [28] showed that ants could affect the spider communities (especially wandering spiders) in Douglas fir, and the abundance of jumping spiders was higher in trees without ants.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Salticid predation as one potential driving force of ant mimicry in jumping spiders

Huang

Cheng

et al. 2010

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Many spiders possess myrmecomorphy, and species of the jumping spider genus Myrmarachne exhibit nearly perfect ant mimicry. Most salticids are diurnal predators with unusually high visual acuity that prey on various arthropods, including conspecifics. In this study, we tested whether predation pressure from large jumping spiders is one possible driving force of perfect ant mimicry in jumping spiders. The results showed that small non-ant-mimicking jumping spiders were readily treated as prey by large ones (no matter whether heterospecific or conspecific) and suffered high attack and mortality rates. The size difference between small and large jumping spiders significantly affected the outcomes of predatory interactions between them: the smaller the juvenile jumping spiders, the higher the predation risk from large ones. The attack and mortality rates of ant-mimicking jumping spiders were significantly lower than those of non-ant-mimicking jumping spiders, indicating that a resemblance to ants could provide protection against salticid predation. However, results of multivariate behavioural analyses showed that the responses of large jumping spiders to ants and ant-mimicking salticids differed significantly. Results of this study indicate that predation pressure from large jumping spiders might be one selection force driving the evolution of nearly perfect myrmecomorphy in spiders and other arthropods.

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Predation by ants on jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) in the Philippines

Cited by 44 publications

References 27 publications

Aggressive use of Batesian mimicry by an ant-like jumping spider

Aggressive use of Batesian mimicry by an ant-like jumping spider

A Predator's Perspective of the Accuracy of Ant Mimicry in Spiders

Salticid predation as one potential driving force of ant mimicry in jumping spiders

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