Intraspecific variation in responses to aposematic prey in a jumping spider (Phidippus regius). (18th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Powell, Erin C.; Taylor, Lisa A.
• Is Part Of: Ethology. Volume 126:Number 12(2020)
• Page Start: 1089
• Page End: 1097
• Publication Date: 2020-09-18
• Subjects: aposematism -- behavioural syndromes -- individual specialization -- Oncopeltus -- Salticidae -- toxicity; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; 591.5
• DOI: 10.1111/eth.13089
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0179-1613

Abstract

Abstract: Aposematic signals often allow chemically defended prey to avoid attack from generalist predators, including jumping spiders. However, not all individual predators in a population behave in the same way. Here, in laboratory trials, we document that most individual Phidippus regius jumping spiders attack and reject chemically defended milkweed bugs ( Oncopeltus fasciatus ), immediately releasing them unharmed. However, a small number of individuals within the population kill and completely consume these presumably toxic prey items. This phenomenon was infrequent with only 14% of our sample (17/122) consuming the milkweed bugs over the course of the study. Individuals that killed and consumed bugs often did so repeatedly; specifically, individuals that consumed a bug in their first test were more likely to kill a bug in their second test and also tended to consume them again. We explored what might drive some (but not all) individuals to consume these bugs and found that neither sex, sexual maturity, body size, laboratory housing type, nor being wild‐caught or being laboratory‐reared, predicted milkweed bug consumption. Consuming bugs had no negative effects on spider mass or body condition; contrary to expectations, individuals that consumed milkweed bugs actually gained more body mass and increased in body condition. We discuss potential behavioural and physiological variation between individuals that may drive these rare behaviours and the implications for the evolution of prey defences. Abstract : A small proportion of regal jumping spiders, Phidippus regius, repeatedly attacked and consumed toxic milkweed bugs while most of the population rejected them. Factors such as the individual's sex, sexual maturity, body size, and rearing history failed to predict these behaviors. Individuals that consumed milkweed bugs gained more body mass and increased more in body condition than those that did not.