New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts

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Observations of Portia africana, an araneophagic jumping spider, living together and sharing prey

Robert R. Jackson^1,2

Simon D. Pollard^2,3,*

Kathryn Salm¹

¹School of Biological Sciences
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140, New Zealand

²International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE)
Thomas Odhiambo Campus
PO Box 30
Mbita Point, Kenya

³Canterbury Museum
Rolleston Avenue
Christchurch 8013, New Zealand

^*Author for correspondence: spollard@canterburymuseum.com

Abstract Instances are documented of finding individuals of Portia africana in the field living aggregated in the webs of other spiders, in the nest complexes of other salticids, around solitary nests of other salticids, and around the nests of oecobiid spiders. Aggregation members included all active juvenile stages of P. africana, as well as adult males and females. More than one individual of P. africana sometimes fed on the same prey. Small juveniles of P. africana were more often than other stages found aggregated and more often observed feeding together. Small juveniles of P. africana surrounded the nests occupied by other salticid genera and nests occupied by oecobiid spiders. When the resident salticid or oecobiid attempted to leave or enter the nest, one of the P. africana juveniles lunged and captured it, after which other P. africana individuals sometimes joined to feed.

Keywords araneophagy; cooperation; Oecobiidae; prey sharing; Salticidae; sociality; spiders

Z07061; Online publication date 4 July 2008; Received 14 December 2007; accepted 6 April 2008

New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2008, Vol. 35: 237–242
0301–4223/08/3503–0237 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2008

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