Intraspecific interactions ofHoloplatyssp. indet., a New Zealand jumping spider (Araneae: Salticidae)

Abstract

The display repertoire of Holoplatys sp. indet. is unusually large and complex for a salticid spider. Approximately 27 major displays occur, a number comparable to the maximum repertoire sizes recorded for vertebrates and social insects. Males have 3 different mating tactics, the one used depending on the female's maturity and location. With adult females outside nests, males use 'type l' courtship; this is shown experimentally to be a form of visual communication, and includes specialised movements of the legs and palps. With adult females inside nests, males use 'type 2' courtship; this does not depend on vision, and includes elements such as probing and palpating on the silk while outside, and tapping and brushing the female after entering the nest. With subadult females, males first use type 2 courtship and then spin an adjacent silken chamber and cohabit. After the female moults and matures, mating occurs inside her nest. Post-mount courtship is a non-visual phase that precedes copulation and occurs as a component of each tactic. Females, subadults, and juveniles display also, and different combinations and sequences of displays occur, in accordance with the sex/age class and location of each interacting spider. One display of females, 'thumping', has an unusually pronounced releaser effect on male mounting behaviour. Although well fed spiders never killed displaying conspecifics, they frequently killed and ate ones that failed to display. Starved spiders, however, often killed displaying conspecifics. A hypothesis is advanced to explain the effectiveness of displays in protecting spiders from cannibalism. The functions of displays are discussed.

Comparative biology ofPortia africana, P. albimana, P. fimbriata, P. labiata, andP. shultzi, araneophagic, web-building jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae): Utilisation of webs, predatory versatility, and intraspecific interactions

“…Spinning on the female, a male postmount behaviour of P. jimbriata (NT, Q) is performed also by various web-building araneids, cursorial thomisids, and cursorial salticids (Gerhardt & Kaestner 1938;Bristowe 1941;Robinson & Robinson 1980;Jackson & Harding 1982). Spinning by all of these species is probably primarily communicatory, but the mechanical function of helping to support the suspended female during copulation may also be important for P. jimbriata (NT, Q).…”

“…Salticid nests (or 'retreats') are usually tubular and densely woven (Jackson 1979a). In some salticids, the segregation of communication into different sensory channels is related to the nest (Jackson 1977a(Jackson , 1982cEdwards 1981;Jackson & Harding 1982). Each male may use any of three distinct mating tactics, depending on the type of female he encounters and whether she is inside or outside her nest ('courtship versatility').…”

“…They are the classic examples of cursorial hunting spiders which, instead of building webs to ensnare their prey, use vision to stalk, chase, and leap on active insects (Drees 1952;Land 1974;Forster 1977Forster , 1982a. Many species have complex repertoires of courtship and threat displays (Crane 1949;Jackson 1982a;Jackson & Harding 1982), and much of the communicatory behaviour of these spiders relies on vision.…”

The display behaviour of Cyllobelus rufopictus (Simon) (Araneae, Salticidae), a jumping spider from Kenya

“…However, courtship versatility has now been described in detail for eight salticid species: Phidippus johnsoni Peckham & Peckham (Jackson 1977) from North America, Mopsus mormon (Karsch), Myrmarachne lupata (L. Koch), and Cosmophasis micarioides (L. Koch) (Jackson 1982(Jackson , 1983(Jackson , 1986a, Holoplatys sp. indet.…”

“…indet. from New Zealand (Jackson & Harding 1982), Menemerus sp. indet., and two species of Pseudicius from Kenya (Jackson 1986b).…”