The Display Behavior of Bavia-Aericeps (Araneae, Salticidae), a Jumping Spider From Queensland

Abstract

Bavia aericeps Simon is a large plurident jumping spider that frequents palms and other trees in tropical Queensland, building unusually strong and spacious nests on the undersides of leaves. The display repertoire of this species is large and complex, numerous distinct visual, vibratory, and tactile signals being used. Courtship is versatile, each male using one of three different mating tactics depending on the female's maturity and location. Type 1 courtship, involving specialized movements and postures of the legs, palps, and body, occurs if the female is an adult away from the nest; apparently this type of courtship is vision- dependent. If the male encounters an adult female inside her nest, he uses Type 2 courtship, which consists of movements that cause the silk to vibrate. If the female is a subadult inside her nest, the male initially uses Type 2 courtship, then builds a second chamber on the female's nest and cohabits until she moults and matures. Other displays occur during male-male and female-female interactions. Male-male interactions are particularly ferocious, the spiders often being upended and stunned. However, cannibalism seems to be of minor importance in this species.