Similar yet different: differential response of a praying mantis to ant-mimicking spiders

Ramesh, Aparajitha and Vijayan, Sajesh and Sreedharan, Sreethin and Somanathan, Hema and Uma, Divya (2016) Similar yet different: differential response of a praying mantis to ant-mimicking spiders. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 119 (1). pp. 158-165. ISSN 00244066

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Abstract

Batesian mimics typically dupe visual predators by resembling noxious or deadly model species. Ants are unpalatable and dangerous to many arthropod taxa, and are popular invertebrate models in mimicry studies. Ant mimicry by spiders, especially jumping spiders, has been studied and researchers have examined whether visual predators can distinguish between the ant model, spider mimic and spider non-mimics. Tropical habitats harbour a diverse community of ants, their mimics and predators. In one such tripartite mimicry system, we investigated the response of an invertebrate visual predator, the ant-mimicking praying mantis (Euantissa pulchra), to two related ant-mimicking spider prey of the genus Myrmarachne, each closely mimicking its model ant species. We found that weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) were much more aggressive than carpenter ants (Camponotus sericeus) towards the mantis. Additionally, mantids exhibited the same aversive response towards ants and their mimics. More importantly, mantids approached carpenter ant-mimicking spiders significantly more than often that they approached weaver ant-mimicking spiders. Thus, in this study, we show that an invertebrate predator, the praying mantis, can indeed discriminate between two closely related mimetic prey. The exact mechanism of the discrimination remains to be tested, but it is likely to depend on the level of mimetic accuracy by the spiders and on the aggressiveness of the ant model organism.

Item Type:	Article
Authors:	Ramesh, Aparajitha and Vijayan, Sajesh and Sreedharan, Sreethin and Somanathan, Hema and Uma, Divya
Document Language:	Language English
Subjects:	Natural Sciences > Life sciences; biology > Ecology Natural Sciences > Life sciences; biology > Natural history of organisms Natural Sciences > Animals (Zoology)
Divisions:	Azim Premji University - Bengaluru > School of Arts and Sciences
Full Text Status:	None
URI:	http://publications.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/id/eprint/7550
Publisher URL:	https://doi.org/10.1111/bij.12793

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