Ant Brood Banditry by the Jumping Spider, Siler semiglaucus (Simon, 1901)

Abstract

The salticid spider, Siler semiglaucus (Simon, 1901) was observed regularly snatching, feeding on, and waiting in ambush for ant brood being carried by ant workers. Colony highways of the ant Dolichoderus thoracicus (Smith, 1860), on coconut trees in Thailand were found to be permanently attended by S. semiglaucus individuals of both sexes and juveniles, operating as brood bandits. Repeated independent observations of banditry over an eight month period indicated that the behaviour is routine in this population. The behaviour can be situated in the context of spider nutritional ecology and kleptoparasitism.