Behavioural and cognitive influences of kairomones on an araneophagic jumping spider

Abstract

AbstractIn laboratory experiments, Portia fimbriata, an araneophagic salticid from Queensland, was influenced by olfactory and contact-chemical cues from Jacksonoides queenslandicus, an abundant salticid on which P.fimbriata preys. Four distinct effects were revealed: P.fimbriata (1) moved into and remained in the vicinity of J. queenslandicus, (2) performed undirected leaping, behaviour known to function as speculative hunting by inducing a turning response from not-yet-seen J. queenslandicus, (3) adopted a posture (retracted palps) known to be routine when stalking salticids and (4) showed enhanced attention to optical cues from J. queenslandicus. Laboratory experiments provided no statistical evidence that chemical cues from other prey species affected P.fimbriata, that J. queenslandicus was affected by chemical cues from P. fimbriata or that allopatric Portia were sensitive to chemical cues from J. queenslandicus.