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

Abstract

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.

Figure 1.

Frequency of test spider (Menemerus sp.) females remaining inside nest with hatchlings or vacating nest when surrounded by groups of 20 individual ants (Crematogaster sp.), ant-like salticids (M. melanotarsa), non-ant-like salticids (Menemerus sp. and Pseudicius sp.), midges (Chaoborus sp.) and empty stimulus chambers (control). All n = 30. Prior to test commencement all tests spiders were within their nests. Letters denote significant differences (p < 0.001). Black, outside nest; grey, inside nest.