Communal jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) from kenya: Interspecific nest complexes, cohabitation with web-building spiders, and intraspecific interactions

Abstract

Menemerus sp., Pseudicius sp. 1, and Pseudicius sp. 2 are communal salticids that live in very large interspecific nest complexes, a habit which is highly unusual for cursorial spiders. Cohabitation with communal, territorial web-building spiders is another unusual characteristic of these species, their nest complexes being built within the alien webbing. Distinct courtship versatility occurs in each species; the male performs visual (Type 1) courtship away from nests and vibratory (Type 2) courtship at nests, and he cohabits with subadult females in nests and mates with them when they mature. Different display behaviour occurs during intraspecific male-male interactions, but minimal interaction occurs between conspecific females. Distinct differences occur in the display behaviours of the different species. © 1986 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.