Prey‐capture techniques and prey preferences of nine species of ant‐eating jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) from the Philippines

Abstract

Siler sp., Euophrys sp. 1 and 2, and six species of Chalcotropis feed on ants in nature. Capture techniques and preferences of each species were studied in the laboratory using a wide variety of ants and other insects. Siler sp. usually attacked ants, but not other insects, from directly behind. Euophrys sp. 1 and 2 consistently attacked ants, but not other insects, head on. Chalcotropis attacked large ants head on, but there was no particular orientation of attacks on small ants or on other prey regardless of size. All species tended to stab ants, but not other prey, several times before holding on. In three types of preypreference tests, each of the nine salticid species took dolichoderine, formicine, myrmicine, ponerine, and pseudomyrmecine ants in preference to a variety of other insects (aphids, bugs, caterpillars, cockroaches, crickets, flies, gnats, lacewings, mantises, may flies, midges, mosquitoes, moths, plant and leafhoppers, Z97045 Received 15 December 1997; accepted 8 April 1998 plant lice, and termites). Testing with laboratoryreared spiders showed that the development of preference for ants and ant-specific prey-capture behaviour did not depend on prior experience with ants. Each species was shown in tests with dead, motionless lures to be capable of distinguishing between ants and other types of prey independent of the different movement patterns of the prey. Findings are discussed in relation to other studies on specialised salticids and in relation to the structure and function of the salticid eye.

Prey‐capture techniques and prey preferences ofZenodorus durvillei, Z. metallescensandZ. orbiculatus, tropical ant‐eating jumping spiders (Araneae: Saiticidae) from Australia

“…Influence of hunger on strength of preference When well-fed (i.e., after a fast of only 1 week), the three species of Zenodorus, along with the other 21 myrmecophagic species that have been studied (Jackson & van Olphen 1991, 1992Jackson et al 1998;Li et al 1996Li et al , 1999, showed consistent preference for ants over other insects in three types of tests. Like prey-specific capture behaviour, the preferences of these species appear to be preprogrammed (i.e., preference did not depend on prior experience with ants).…”

“…Zenodorus durvillei, Z. metallescens and Z. orbiculatus, along with 21 species previously studied (Edwards et al, 1974;Cutler 1980;Jackson & van Olphen 1991, 1992Jackson et al 1998;Li et al 1996Li et al ,1999, appear to be exceptions to the rule that salticids are averse to ants as prey (Bristowe 1941). "Myrmecophagic" is an appropriate term for these 24 species.…”

“…However, no myrmecophagic species are known to feed exclusively on ants. Instead, each of the 24 species studied also feeds on a wide range of other prey both in the laboratory and in nature (Jackson & van Olphen 1991, 1992Jackson et al 1998;Li et al 1996Li et al , 1999.…”

“…28 species tested took prey indiscriminately in all three types of tests. After 2-week fasts, whether the spider continued to take ants in preference to other prey depended on which species was being tested (Jackson & van Olphen 1991, 1992Li et al 1991Li et al , 1996Jackson et al 1998). For A. canosa (Walckenaer) and Z. orbiculatus (Keyserling), findings after 2-week fasts depended on the type of testing adopted; in alternate-day tests, prey were taken indiscriminately, but ants were taken in preference to other insects in simultaneous-presentation tests.…”

“…The ant's defences (e.g., powerful mandibles, poison-injecting stings and formic acid : Eisner 1970;Blum 1981;Holldobler & Wilson 1990) evidently present formidable challenges to most salticid species, but there is a sizeable minority group (the "myrmecophagic salticids") that routinely feed on ants (Li & Jackson 1996a). The most thoroughly studied myrmecophagic salticids are from nine genera, Aelurillus, Chalcotropis, Chrysilla Anasaitis, Habrocestum, Natta (formerly Cyllobelus), Siler, Xenocytaea (formerly Euophrys) and Zenodorus (formerly Pystira) (Edwards et al 1974;Cutler 1980;Jackson & van Olphen 1991, 1992Li et al 1996;Jackson et al 1998;Li et al 1999). Although each of these salticids takes ants readily using antspecific prey-capture tactics, each also uses other tactics to take other prey.…”