... of the signal in question. We explored the structure and function of predator–prey signalling in the jumping spider–tephritid fly system, where the prey performs a wing waving display that deters an attack from the predator. Using a custom-built spider retinal tracker combined with visual modelling, as well...

... among traits. A fast-growing predator species with a strict maturation time may be more likely to consume nutritionally imbalanced prey. Here, we tested this hypothesis by examining the effect of the protein-to-lipid ratio in prey on a small sheet web-building spider, Hylyphantes graminicola...

...Fiona R. Cross; Robert R. Jackson ABSTRACT Proficiency at planning is known to be part of the exceptionally complex predatory repertoire of Portia , a genus of jumping spiders (Salticidae) that specialize in preying on other spiders. This includes proficiency at choosing between two detour routes...

... with certain gaits can enable efficient, stable locomotion; however, switching gaits requires complex information flow between and coordination of an animal's limbs. We show here that upon losing two legs, spiders can switch to a novel, more statically stable gait, or use temporal adjustments without a gait...

... in spiders; they have a distinct socket, a bent hair shaft with fine cuticular ridges, an eccentric double lumen within the hair shaft, and a blunt tip with a subterminal pore. Spigots on the spinnerets have a large bulbous base instead of a socket, a long shaft with a scaly surface and a central terminal...

...Carlo M. Biancardi; C. Gabriel Fabrica; Patricia Polero; Jefferson Fagundes Loss; Alberto E. Minetti SUMMARY Despite the abundance of octapodal species and their evolutionary importance in originating terrestrial locomotion, the locomotion mechanics of spiders has received little attention so far...

...Joaquin Ortega-Escobar SUMMARY Previous studies in the wolf spider Lycosa tarantula (Linnaeus 1758) have shown that homing is carried out by path integration and that, in the absence of information relative to the sun's position or any pattern of polarized light, L. tarantula obtains information...

...F. Claire Rind; Chris Luke Birkett; Benjamin-James A. Duncan; Alexander J. Ranken SUMMARY Like all spiders, tarantulas (family Theraphosidae) synthesize silk in specialized glands and extrude it from spinnerets on their abdomen. In one species of large tarantula, Aphonopelma seemanni , it has been...

... to arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of its function. We quantified how the brightly colored giant wood spiders Nephila pilipes are viewed by nocturnal insects, and performed field manipulations to assess the function of a spider's coloration in both diurnal and nocturnal conditions. Seen through...

...Anke Schmitz SUMMARY The CO 2 release of the well-tracheated jumping spider, Marpissa muscosa , and the poorly tracheated, Pardosa lugubris , was tested while animals were running on a treadmill at three different speeds and under a selective elimination of lungs or tracheae. Thus,the influence...

...G. V. Guinea; M. Elices; J. Pérez-Rigueiro; G. R. Plaza SUMMARY The spinning of spider silk requires a combination of aqueous environment and stretching, and the aim of this work was to explore the role of stretching silk fibers in an aqueous environment and its effect on the tensile properties...

... striders and water-walking spiders circumvent this paradox by foregoing any reliance on waves to gain purchase on the water. Instead they use their legs as oars, and the capillary `dimple' formed by each leg acts as the oar's blade. The resulting hydrodynamic drag produces vortices in the water...

...A. B. Kesel; A. Martin; T. Seidl SUMMARY The feet of the jumping spider Evarcha arcuata attach to rough substrates using tarsal claws. On smooth surfaces, however, attachment is achieved by means of a claw tuft, the scopula. All eight feet bear a tarsal scopula, which is equipped with setae...

...Marie Dacke; Thuy A. Doan; David C. O’Carroll SUMMARY We describe here the detection of polarized light by the simple eyes of spiders. Using behavioural, morphological, electrophysiological and optical studies, we show that spiders have evolved two different mechanisms to resolve the e-vector...

...Duane P. Harland; Robert R. Jackson ABSTRACT Portia fimbriata from Queensland, Australia, is an araneophagic jumping spider (Salticidae) that includes in its predatory strategy a tactic (cryptic stalking) enabling it to prey effectively on a wide range of salticids from other genera. Optical cues...

...J. M. Gosline; P. A. Guerette; C. S. Ortlepp; K. N. Savage ABSTRACT Spiders produce a variety of silks, and the cloning of genes for silk fibroins reveals a clear link between protein sequence and structure–property relationships. The fibroins produced in the spider’s major ampullate (MA) gland...

...Robert B. Suter; Horatio Wildman ABSTRACT Fishing spiders, Dolomedes triton (Araneae, Pisauridae), propel themselves across the water surface using two gaits: they row with four legs at sustained velocities below 0.2 m s −1 and they gallop with six legs at sustained velocities above 0.3m s −1...

...Heinz Malli; Lucia Kuhn-Nentwig; Hans Imboden; Wolfgang Nentwig ABSTRACT Previous experimental studies have shown that neotropical wandering spiders ( Cupiennius salei ) inject more venom when attacking larger crickets. It has been postulated that this is a consequence of predator–prey interactions...

...Axel Schmid ABSTRACT The Central American hunting spider Cupiennius salei Keys relies mainly on its mechanosensory systems during prey-catching and mating behaviour. The behavioural relevance of its eight eyes has not been studied before, although their optics and sensitivity suggest highly...

...Robert B. Suter; Oren Rosenberg; Sandra Loeb; Horatio Wildman; John H. Long, JR ABSTRACT Using kinematic and mechanical experiments, we have shown how fisher spiders, Dolomedes triton (Araneae, Pisauridae), can generate horizontal propulsive forces using their legs. This horizontal thrust...