Sociable widow spiders? Evidence of subsociality in Latrodectus Walckenaer, 1805 (Araneae, Theridiidae)

A first case of subsociality is reported for the genus Latrodectus . Individuals were found sharing the same web and feeding together. In captivity they showed mutual tolerance and communal feeding. This finding is remarkable for two reasons. First, widow spiders, even compared with other spiders, a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of ethology 2008-05, Vol.26 (2), p.299-302
Main Authors: Bertani, Rogério, Fukushima, Caroline Sayuri, Martins, Rosana
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Ecology
Animal ethology
Araneae
Behavioral Sciences
Biological and medical sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Evolutionary Biology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Latrodectus
Life Sciences
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Short Communication
Theridiidae
Zoology
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Summary:A first case of subsociality is reported for the genus Latrodectus . Individuals were found sharing the same web and feeding together. In captivity they showed mutual tolerance and communal feeding. This finding is remarkable for two reasons. First, widow spiders, even compared with other spiders, are famously aggressive and cannibalistic so that social behavior in the genus was unexpected. Second, the genus nests outside the “ Anelosimus  + lost colulus” clade where all the other social theridiids are found.
ISSN:0289-0771
1439-5444
DOI:10.1007/s10164-007-0082-8