Wednesday 13 March 2019

Jumping spider mimics two kinds of ants as it grows


Biologists found that adult spiders that pretend to be ants retain their spiderly figures to attract mates
Date:  February 27, 2019
Source:  University of Cincinnati
Spiders that pretend to be ants to fool predators have an unusual problem when it comes to sex.
How do they get the attention of potential mates without breaking character to birds that want to eat them?
University of Cincinnati biologists say evolution might provide an elegant solution. Viewed from above, the mimics look like skinny, three-segmented ants to fool predators. But in profile, the adult mimics retain their more voluptuous and alluring spider figure to woo nearby mates.
UC researchers presented their findings in January at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology conference in Tampa, Fla.
Most birds avoid ants and their painful stingers, sharp mandibles and habit of showing up with lots of friends. Try to eat one and you're likely to get chewed on by 10 more. That's why nearly every insect family from beetles to mantises has species that mimic ants.
By comparison, spiders are delicious and nutritious, said Alexis Dodson, a UC doctoral student and lead author.
"That's what a lot of natural selection is all about -- to convince other species not to eat you and convince members of your species to mate with you and to do so at the least cost possible," Dodson said.


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