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

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ximena J. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Batesian Mimicry ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Oecophylla Smaragdina ◽  
Jumping Spider ◽  
Behavioural Characteristics ◽  
Ant Mimicry ◽  
Signal Accuracy

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 usedPortia 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 ofMyrmarachne bakeriand sexually dimorphic males ofM. bakeri, which have enlarged chelicerae) was assessed.Portia fimbriataexhibited graded aversion in accordance with the accuracy of resemblance to ants (O. smaragdina>S. occidentalis> femaleM. bakeri> maleM. bakeri). These results support the hypothesis that ant resemblance confers protection from visual predators, but to varying degrees depending on signal accuracy.

scholarly journals Sexually dimorphic dorsal coloration in a jumping spider: testing a potential case of sex-specific mimicry

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 210308
Author(s):  
Collette Cook ◽  
Erin C. Powell ◽  
Kevin J. McGraw ◽  
Lisa A. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Colour Pattern ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Sham Control ◽  
Jumping Spider ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Potential Case ◽  
Opposite Sex ◽  
Colour Patterns ◽  
Hymenopteran Insects ◽  
Predation Rates

To avoid predation, many animals mimic behaviours and/or coloration of dangerous prey. Here we examine potential sex-specific mimicry in the jumping spider Habronattus pyrrithrix . Previous work proposed that males' conspicuous dorsal coloration paired with characteristic leg-waving (i.e. false antennation) imperfectly mimics hymenopteran insects (e.g. wasps and bees), affording protection to males during mate-searching and courtship. By contrast, less active females are cryptic and display less leg-waving. Here we test the hypothesis that sexually dimorphic dorsal colour patterns in H. pyrrithrix are most effective when paired with sex-specific behaviours. We manipulated spider dorsal coloration with makeup to model the opposite sex and exposed them to a larger salticid predator ( Phidippus californicus ). We predicted that males painted like females should suffer higher predation rates than sham-control males. Likewise, females painted like males should suffer higher predation rates than sham-control females. Contrary to expectations, spiders with male-like coloration were attacked more than those with female-like coloration, regardless of their actual sex. Moreover, males were more likely to be captured, and were captured sooner, than females (regardless of colour pattern). With these unexpected negative results, we discuss alternative functional hypotheses for H. pyrrithrix colours, as well as the evolution of defensive coloration generally.

scholarly journals Effects of age and feeding history on structure-based UV ornaments of a jumping spider (Araneae: Salticidae)

2006 ◽  
Vol 274 (1609) ◽  
pp. 569-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew L.M Lim ◽  
Daiqin Li
Keyword(s):  
Mate Choice ◽  
Food Deprivation ◽  
Spectral Intensity ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Jumping Spider ◽  
Structural Coloration ◽  
Spectral Reflection ◽  
Male Age ◽  
Uv Coloration

Recent studies have shown for birds that females sometimes choose mates on the basis of condition-dependent variation in ultraviolet (UV, less than 400 nm) ornamentation, but there have been few comparable studies on invertebrates. Yet many invertebrates have UV structural coloration. Here, we investigate Cosmophasis umbratica , a jumping spider (Araneae: Salticidae) that has sexually dimorphic UV-iridescent ornamentation, and we provide evidence that male UV coloration is condition dependent in this species. Spectral-reflection patterns change with male age and prior feeding history. The position of the UV band (i.e. UV hue) of the carapaces of younger (field-collected as subadults and matured as adults in laboratory) males shifted, relative to older (field-collected as adults) males, significantly towards longer wavelengths. Food deprivation significantly decreased the spectral intensity of the abdomen, but not the carapace. Questions concerning the mechanisms by which UV ornaments change are highlighted, as are hypotheses concerning the role of condition-dependent UV variation in male–male competition and as a criterion used by females when making mate-choice decisions.

scholarly journals The jumping spider Saitis barbipes lacks a red photoreceptor to see its own sexually dimorphic red coloration

2021 ◽  
Vol 109 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateusz Glenszczyk ◽  
David Outomuro ◽  
Matjaž Gregorič ◽  
Simona Kralj-Fišer ◽  
Jutta M. Schneider ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reasonable Assumption ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Sexual Signaling ◽  
Jumping Spider ◽  
Maximal Sensitivity ◽  
Green Sensitivity ◽  
Ill Posed ◽  
Human Eyes ◽  
Black Color ◽  
Red Coloration

AbstractExamining the role of color in mate choice without testing what colors the study animal is capable of seeing can lead to ill-posed hypotheses and erroneous conclusions. Here, we test the seemingly reasonable assumption that the sexually dimorphic red coloration of the male jumping spider Saitis barbipes is distinguishable, by females, from adjacent black color patches. Using microspectrophotometry, we find clear evidence for photoreceptor classes with maximal sensitivity in the UV (359 nm) and green (526 nm), inconclusive evidence for a photoreceptor maximally sensitive in the blue (451 nm), and no evidence for a red photoreceptor. No colored filters within the lens or retina could be found to shift green sensitivity to red. To quantify and visualize whether females may nevertheless be capable of discriminating red from black color patches, we take multispectral images of males and calculate photoreceptor excitations and color contrasts between color patches. Red patches would be, at best, barely discriminable from black, and not discriminable from a low-luminance green. Some color patches that appear achromatic to human eyes, such as beige and white, strongly absorb UV wavelengths and would appear as brighter “spider-greens” to S. barbipes than the red color patches. Unexpectedly, we discover an iridescent UV patch that contrasts strongly with the UV-absorbing surfaces dominating the rest of the spider. We propose that red and black coloration may serve identical purposes in sexual signaling, functioning to generate strong achromatic contrast with the visual background. The potential functional significance of red coloration outside of sexual signaling is discussed.

scholarly journals Predatory response to changes in camouflage in a sexually dimorphic jumping spider

2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maciej Bartos ◽  
Katarzyna Szczepko ◽  
Marzena Stanska
Keyword(s):  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Jumping Spider ◽  
Predatory Response

scholarly journals BATESIAN MIMICRY AND SIGNAL ACCURACY

Evolution ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 2050-2053 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Mappes ◽  
Rauno V. Alatalo
Keyword(s):  
Batesian Mimicry ◽  
Signal Accuracy

Batesian Mimicry and Signal Accuracy

Evolution ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 2050 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Mappes ◽  
Rauno V. Alatalo
Keyword(s):  
Batesian Mimicry ◽  
Signal Accuracy

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

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 755-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ximena J. Nelson ◽  
Robert R. Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Batesian Mimicry ◽  
Potential Prey ◽  
Jumping Spider ◽  
Aggressive Mimicry ◽  
Visual Range

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.

scholarly journals An arachnid′s guide to be an ant: morphological and behavioural mimicry in ant-mimicking spiders

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nimish Subramaniam ◽  
Krishnapriya Tamma ◽  
Divya Uma
Keyword(s):  
Geometric Morphometrics ◽  
Body Shape ◽  
Body Plan ◽  
Batesian Mimicry ◽  
Oecophylla Smaragdina ◽  
Weaver Ants ◽  
Jumping Spiders ◽  
Arthropod Species ◽  
Sensory Modalities ◽  
And Behavior

Batesian mimicry imposes several challenges to mimics and evokes adaptations in multiple sensory modalities. Myrmecomorphy, morphological and behavioral resemblance to ants, is seen in over 2000 arthropod species. Ant-like resemblance is observed in at least 13 spider families despite spiders having a distinct body plan compared to ants. Quantifying the extent to which spider's shape, size, and behavior resemble model ants will allow us to comprehend the evolutionary pressures that have facilitated myrmecomorphy. Myrmaplata plataleoides are 'accurate' mimics of the weaver ants, Oecophylla smaragdina. In this study, we quantify the speed of movement of model, mimic, and non-mimetic jumping spiders. We use traditional and geometric morphometrics to quantify traits such as foreleg and hindleg size, body shape between the model ant, mimic, and non-mimics. Our results suggest that while the mimics closely resemble the model ants in speed of movement, they occupy an intermediate morphological space compared to the model ants and non-mimics. We suggest that ant-mimicking spiders are better at mimicking ant's locomotory movement than morphology and overall body shape. Our study provides a framework to understand the multimodal nature of mimicry and helps discern the relative contributions of such traits that drive mimetic accuracy in ant-mimicking spiders.

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