Publication details
Poor display repertoire, tolerance and kleptobiosis: results of specialization in an ant-eating spider (Araneae, Zodariidae)
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2004 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Journal of Insect Behavior |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Zoology |
| Keywords | intraspecific competition; agonistic behavior; cannibalism; stenophagous |
| Description | The agonistic display repertoire of myrmecophagous Zodarion rubidum has five displays. This is fewer than in other spiders, which is a result of the short time spent in contests (4 s). Such a short duration seems to be an adaptation to living among foraging ants. The interaction procedure was markedly affected by the presence of prey. Contests between individuals without prey, or each holding prey, were usually resolved by leg waving. But contests between an individual without and an individual with prey escalated to more aggressive levels. Nevertheless, spiders were never observed to harm or cannibalize one another. Absence of cannibalism is explained as a result of diet specialization. Some spiders used kleptobiosis to gain ants. They first tried to gain immobilized prey aggressively and if failed they adopted a stealthy tactic and shared the prey with the owner. Kleptobiosis is an alternative foraging strategy for Zodarion as it reduces risks associated with hunting dangerous ants. |