Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
The Eurasian ant-mimicking spider Myrmarachne formicaria (Salticidae) is a relatively new arrival to North America and has spread throughout the Great Lakes region. M. formicaria has evolved remarkable ant-like appearances and behaviors, alongside enlarged chelicerae (jaws) in males. These chelicerae may be critical in competitive interactions as they spread them during confrontations with other males. The outcomes of these encounters could significantly impact courtship success. Our study aims to explore three main questions: (1) Do M. formicaria exhibit consistent variation in behavior that could be characterized as differences in personality? (2) If these spiders do exhibit consistent personalities, are these traits linked to physical features such as overall body size and chelicerae size? (3) Does personality or morphology influence the results of intraspecific interactions? To address these questions, we carried out several behavioral assays, repeated twice, to quantify potential personality traits. We measured voracity, defined as the intense drive to feed, as the time elapsed before attack on fruit flies. We assessed aggression as the time spiders spent displaying at a mirror. Finally, we assessed intraspecific interactions using a male-male duel assay that quantified aggression towards an opponent, time spent displaying, and other factors. Alongside these behavioral tests, we measured the spiders and analyzed the relationships between measurements, behavioral traits like aggression and voracity, and intraspecific encounter outcomes. Understanding these relationships could reveal how physical and behavioral traits influence female preferences and male courtship outcomes.
Recommended Citation
Charlap, Theodore and Judd, Colton, "096 - Personality, Morphology, and Intraspecific Interactions in the Ant-Mimicking Spider, Myrmarachne formicaria" (2025). GREAT Day Posters. 27.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2025/posters-2025/27
096 - Personality, Morphology, and Intraspecific Interactions in the Ant-Mimicking Spider, Myrmarachne formicaria
The Eurasian ant-mimicking spider Myrmarachne formicaria (Salticidae) is a relatively new arrival to North America and has spread throughout the Great Lakes region. M. formicaria has evolved remarkable ant-like appearances and behaviors, alongside enlarged chelicerae (jaws) in males. These chelicerae may be critical in competitive interactions as they spread them during confrontations with other males. The outcomes of these encounters could significantly impact courtship success. Our study aims to explore three main questions: (1) Do M. formicaria exhibit consistent variation in behavior that could be characterized as differences in personality? (2) If these spiders do exhibit consistent personalities, are these traits linked to physical features such as overall body size and chelicerae size? (3) Does personality or morphology influence the results of intraspecific interactions? To address these questions, we carried out several behavioral assays, repeated twice, to quantify potential personality traits. We measured voracity, defined as the intense drive to feed, as the time elapsed before attack on fruit flies. We assessed aggression as the time spiders spent displaying at a mirror. Finally, we assessed intraspecific interactions using a male-male duel assay that quantified aggression towards an opponent, time spent displaying, and other factors. Alongside these behavioral tests, we measured the spiders and analyzed the relationships between measurements, behavioral traits like aggression and voracity, and intraspecific encounter outcomes. Understanding these relationships could reveal how physical and behavioral traits influence female preferences and male courtship outcomes.
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