Ant mimicry in the spider Myrmecotypus iguazu (Araneae: Corinnidae), with notes about myrmecomorphy in spiders

We describe the mimetic relationship between the ant-like spider Myrmecotypus iguazu Rubio & Arbino 2009 (Araneae: Corinnidae) and the carpenter ant Camponotus sericeiventris Guérin (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), studied in a subtropical rainforest in Iguazú National Park, Argentina. The morphologic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of arachnology 2013-11, Vol.41 (3), p.395-399
Main Authors: Rubio, Gonzalo D., Arbino, Manuel O., Cushing, Paula E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abdomen
Ant-like spider
Ants
Araneae
Batesian mimics
Behavior
Camponotus
carpenter ants
color
Colors
Corinnidae
Formicidae
Hymenoptera
Insect antennae
Insect behavior
Insect morphology
laboratory experimentation
mimetic relationship
Mimicry
Mimicry (Biology)
national parks
Paranaense rainforest
Predators
rain forests
SHORT COMMUNICATION
SHORT COMMUNICATIONS
Spiders
Worker insects
Zoological research
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Summary:We describe the mimetic relationship between the ant-like spider Myrmecotypus iguazu Rubio & Arbino 2009 (Araneae: Corinnidae) and the carpenter ant Camponotus sericeiventris Guérin (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), studied in a subtropical rainforest in Iguazú National Park, Argentina. The morphological adaptations, aspects of coloration, and behavior responsible for the ant-like appearance in M. iguazu (the mimic) provide strong evidence that its model is C. sericeiventris. Both field observations and field and laboratory experiments suggest that this spider is a Batesian mimic.
ISSN:0161-8202
1937-2396
DOI:10.1636/J13-35.1