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Evolutionary, molecular and comparative zoology
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 57(5)

Ant-mimicking spider, Myrmarachne species (Araneae : Salticidae), distinguishes its model, the green ant, Oecophylla smaragdina, from a sympatric Batesian O. smaragdina mimic, Riptortus serripes (Hemiptera : Alydidae)

Fadia Sara Ceccarelli
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- Author Affiliations

School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia. Email: saracecca@hotmail.com

Australian Journal of Zoology 57(5) 305-309 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO08014
Submitted: 5 February 2008  Accepted: 8 September 2009   Published: 12 November 2009

Abstract

In north Queensland, Australia, the alydid bug Riptortus serripes and the undescribed salticid spider Myrmarachne sp. F are co-occurring visual Batesian mimics of the green tree ant Oecophylla smaragdina. Myrmarachne sp. F lives near ant nests and avoids contact with aggressive worker ants, suggesting that, like other salticids, it can distinguish visually between prey, mates and rivals. An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that Myrmarachne sp. F can distinguish O. smaragdina from its visual mimic, R. serripes. Individual spiders were exposed to individuals of O. smaragdina, R. serripes or a control hemipteran and their interactions video-recorded. For each encounter, the animals’ initial motion and distance apart were recorded, and the spider’s response was categorised. These experiments revealed that Myrmarachne sp. F responded differently to the various species, ‘avoiding’ the ant more frequently than the bug. Further tests are needed to determine whether the spider’s differing reactions to the two species are due to visual or other cues.

Additional keywords: Batesian mimicry, behaviour, Hemiptera, Salticidae.


Acknowledgements

I thank Scriptoria Communications as well as Mark Elgar, Richard Rowe and two anonymous referees for comments on this manuscript and the JCU School of Tropical Biology for research funds.


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