Predatory spider mimics acquire colony-specific cuticular hydrocarbons from their ant model prey

Abstract

The integrity of social insect colonies is maintained by members recognising and responding to the chemical cues present on the cuticle of any intruder. Nevertheless, myrmecophiles use chemical mimicry to gain access to these nests, and their mimetic signals may be acquired through biosynthesis or through contact with the hosts or their nest material. The cuticular hydrocarbon profile of the myrmecophilous salticid spider Cosmophasis bitaeniata closely resembles that of its host ant Oecophylla smaragdina. Here, we show that the chemical resemblance of the spider does not arise through physical contact with the adult ants, but instead the spider acquires the cuticular hydrocarbons by eating the ant larvae. More significantly, we show that the variation in the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of the spider depends upon the colony of origin of the ant larvae prey, rather than the parentage of the spider.

Male-specific ( Z )-9-tricosene stimulates female mating behaviour in the spider Pholcus beijingensis

“…Thus, cuticular lipids of the spider Gamasomorpha maschwitzi, which lives in colonies of the Southeast Asian army ant Leptogenys distinguenda, and its host ant were virtually identical (Schulz 2004). This predatory spider acquires colony-specific cuticular hydrocarbons from their ant prey (Elgar & Allan 2004). The salticid spider Cosmophasis bitaeniata, which preys on the larvae of the green tree ant, Oecophylla smaragdina, mimics the cuticular hydrocarbon pattern of its host to avoid detection by major worker ants (Allan et al 2002).…”

Diet-Mediated Pheromones and Signature Mixtures Can Enforce Signal Reliability

“…In some of these systems, diet is so crucial to the nest-mate recognition system that the converse pattern also occurs: previously hostile colonies experience decreased aggression when reared on the same diet (Buczkowski et al, 2005;Richard et al, 2007). Intriguingly, the cuticular hydrocarbon profile of the myrmecophile spider Cosmophasis bitaeniata, which feeds on the larval stages of the ant Oecophylla smaragdina, changes with diet (Elgar and Allan, 2004), presumably allowing the spider to mimic the colony profile and thus remain undetected by its prey (Elgar and Allan, 2006). Diet-mediated nest-mate recognition odors provide receivers with reliable information of identity and are most effective when diet varies between, but is consistent within, colonies.…”

Fatty acids mediate aggressive behavior in the spider Tegenaria atrica

“…And what kind of signals modulates behavior between tolerance and aggression? Vibration is the major way to collect information for spiders, whatever the kind of interactions (Barth 1990;Baurecht & Barth 1993;Landolfa & Barth 1996) and chemical communication is used in both sexual behavior and prey capture (Tichy et al 2001;Allan et al 2002;Punzo & Preshkar 2002;Elgar & Allan 2004;Roberts & Uetz 2004;Zhu & Haynes 2004). There is evidence too for such chemical cues in the modulation of intraspecific behavior (Trabalon et al 1996;Pourié & Trabalon 1999b;Pourié & Trabalon 2001).…”