Portia labia , a Cannibalistic Jumping Spider, Discriminataes Between Own and Foreign Eggsacs

Abstract

Eggsac recognition was investigated in Portia labiata, a jumping spider ( Salticidae ) that routinely feeds on the eggs of conspecifics, but does not normally feed on its own eggs. In laboratory experiments, we demonstrate that P. labiata females can discriminate between their own and foreign eggsacs. The cues by which these discriminations are made are discussed.