How variation in prey aposematic signals affects avoidance learning, generalization and memory of a salticid spider

Abstract

Most studies of aposematism focus on the effect of warning signals on vertebrate predators, especially birds. In our experiments, we used jumping spiders, Evarcha arcuata (Araneae: Salticidae) as predators, and larvae of three colour forms (red, white, yellow) of an unpalatable firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus (Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae) as prey. The experiments were divided into four successive steps, focusing on different aspects of predator–prey interaction. (1) When presented with a firebug for the first time, the spiders captured the white, least conspicuous colour form more often than the other two. No differences in the attack latencies were observed between the colour forms. (2) In the avoidance-learning test, the spiders were offered in succession five firebugs of one of the three colour forms. The attack and capture rate decreased in all colour forms, more notably in the red, most conspicuous form. (3) After five presentations of the same prey, the spiders were presented with a different firebug colour form. The results of the generalization process were asymmetric: spiders' attack rate increased when the red prey was followed by the yellow or white one, but decreased when the red form was presented after the other colour forms. (4) Spiders attacked the same prey more often the next day, but the attacks were seldom fatal. Similarly to the initial reaction, spiders captured the white firebugs more often. Our results show that for E. arcuata , the red coloration can represent an effective aposematic signal. Red prey coloration decreased the attack rate during the avoidance-learning process and favoured the prey in generalization between different colour forms. Yellow coloration was moderately effective against E. arcuata , whereas white coloration was the least effective because of low innate bias against this signal.