Role of legs and foot adhesion in salticid spiders jumping from smooth surfaces

Many spiders and insects can perform rapid jumps from smooth plant surfaces. Here, we investigate how jumping spiders (Pseudeuophrys lanigera and Sitticus pubescens) avoid slipping when accelerating. Both species differed in the relative contribution of leg pairs to the jump. P. lanigera accelerated mainly with their long third legs, whereas their short fourth legs detached earlier. In contrast, S. pubescens accelerated mainly with their long fourth legs, and their short third legs detached earlier. Because of the different orientation (fourth-leg tip pointing backward, third-leg tip pointing forward), the fourth-leg tarsus pushed, whereas the third-leg tarsus pulled. High-speed video recordings showed that pushing and pulling was achieved by different attachment structures. In P. lanigera, third-leg feet made surface contact with setae on their distal or lateral claw tuft, whereas fourth-leg feet engaged the proximal claw tuft, and the distal tuft was raised off the ground. S. pubescens showed the same division of labour between proximal and distal claw tuft for pushing and pulling, but the claw tuft contact lasted longer and was more visible in the fourth than in the third legs. Experimental ablation of claw tufts caused accelerating spiders to slip, confirming that adhesion is essential for jumps from smooth substrates.

Description of a new species of spider wasp Genus Machaerothrix Haupt(Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) from India with reports on its host ssociation and nesting behaviour

The little-known spider wasp genus Machaerothrix Haupt, 1938 is recorded for the first time from India with the description and illustrations of both sexes of a seventh species from the World. The biology, habitat, prey preference and transport, nest structure and nesting behaviour of the new species is studied and the association of the wasps with salticid spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) is here validated.

The recently described parasitoid braconid wasp, Napo townsendi (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Euphorinae: Dinocampini), forms leks and deters predators in the Ecuadorian cloud forest

In the Ecuadorian cloud forest, males of the parasitoid braconid waspNapo townsendiShaw displayed facultative lekking, appearing both singly and in groups of 2–7 on the leaf tops of various plant species. To attract females, they constantly employed a stereotypical, spread-winged calling behaviour, apparently releasing a sex pheromone combed from the lateral metasomal exocrine glands and applied to the wings and hind legs. Aggregated males used the same posture in conspecific agonistic displays, often leading to physical fighting. While female wasps were attracted to and mated with displaying singletons, they also made a choice among aggregated males. When females approached, males vibrated their wings in a brief courtship and mounted. Details of copulation behaviour, which lasted on an average of 3–4 min, are described. Without apparent physical weaponry, the displaying wasps successfully warded off attacks from an assortment of predatory arthropods, particularly salticid spiders. We present case studies of repeated unsuccessful predation attempts by salticids. Here, we postulate that calling and release of sex pheromone may double as both an intrasexual agonistic display and an aposematic advisory to predators that the wasps employ a chemical defence.

The First Record Of The Salticid Spiders Sibianor larae And S. tantulus (Aranei, Salticidae) In Ukraine

Two species of salticid spiders Sibianor larae Logunov, 2000 and S. tantulus (Simon, 1868) were revealed as a result of verification of collected samples from the forest zone of Ukraine. Th e redefined specimens were previously identify ed as S. aurocinctus (Ohlert, 1865). Specimens of S. aurocinctus were not found in the material. Geographic coordinates of localities and description of S. larae and S. tantulus habitats are provided.

Dana, replacement name for the New Zealand talitrid amphipod genus Tara Duncan, 1994 (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Talitridae), preoccupied by Tara Peckham & Peckham, 1886 (Araneae, Salticidae, Amycinae, Astiini)

Tara Duncan, 1994, was established as a terrestrial genus of New Zealand talitrid amphipods, with the type species Orchestia sylvicola Dana, 1852. It was recently discovered to be a junior homonym of Tara Peckham & Peckham, 1886, a genus of salticid spiders (Araneae, Salticidae, Amycinae, Astiini). Tara Peckham & Peckham, 1886, is a valid name in current use for a small endemic genus of Australian jumping spiders recently revised by Zabka (1987). Tara Duncan, 1994, appears in the literature at least three times: in the original description of the genus (Duncan 1994), in identification keys to the terrestrial amphipods of New Zealand (Fenwick & Webber 2008), and in the recent inventory of New Zealand biodiversity (Webber et al. 2010). The new name, Dana, is proposed to replace Tara Duncan, 1994.

A review of the Australian genera of the planthopper family Issidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) with description of an unusual new species of Chlamydopteryx Kirkaldy

A new species of the planthopper family Issidae, with a feature which appears to mimic small salticid spiders, is described as Chlamydopteryx mammoides sp. nov., from Queensland, Australia. Phaeopteryx Kirkaldy, 1907 is placed in synonymy under Chlamydopteryx Kirkaldy, 1907, creating the new combination Chlamydopteryx sidnicus (Kirkaldy). Tetrica scapularis Jacobi, 1928 is transferred to the genus Orinda Kirkaldy as Orinda scapularis comb. nov. and Orinda bimaculifrons Jacobi, 1928 to the genus Chlamydopteryx as Chlamydopteryx bimaculifrons comb. nov. Some new records for Australian Issidae are given. A key to the described Australian issid genera is given, along with a checklist of described species.

A basal phylogenetic placement for the salticid spider Eupoa, with descriptions of two new species (Araneae: Salticidae)

The southeast Asian genus Eupoa includes small salticid spiders with unusual palpi. Two new species of the genus are described. Two morphological characters (presence of a median apophysis in the male palp and of a tarsal claw in the female palp) suggest it is excluded from the main clade of salticids (the Salticoida). Sequences of nuclear and mitochondrial gene regions (28S, 18S, 16S–ND1, CO1), analyzed by parsimony and Bayesian methods, agree that Eupoa is a basal (non-salticoid) salticid, but fail to find a clear placement. Eupoa may represent a deep-branching lineage long separate from the lyssomanines, spartaeines, and other basal groups.