Sex Role–Dependent Behavioral and Architectural Divergence in a Jumping Spider

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  Sex Role–Dependent Behavioral and Architectural Divergence in a Jumping Spider ABSTRACT Sex differences in behavior and functional traits are often attributed to differences in mating effort intensity, but the role of sex-specific parental demands remains poorly understood. Using the jumping spider Toxeus maxillosus —where males engage in mate searching and courtship without providing parental care, while females provide extended maternal care from egg attendance to offspring maturity (around 3 months)—we conducted an exploratory investigation into whether these distinct selective pressures led to divergence in spatial behaviors and nest architecture. Results revealed that males and females showed equivalent accuracy, latency, and learning-related performance in both a route-planning test under water stress and a color-pattern associative memory task. In contrast, during nest-construction assays, females built complex, multi-entrance structures that closely matched the container'...

Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from the Sky Island Mountains of Sonora: A survey at Rancho Las Playitas, Arizpe and Bacoachi with new species records for Mexico

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Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from the Sky Island Mountains of Sonora: A survey at Rancho Las Playitas, Arizpe and Bacoachi with new species records for Mexico

Abstract

This study investigates the diversity, abundance, and composition spider communities in Rancho Las Playitas, Arizpe and Bacoachi, Sonora, Mexico. Moreover, we present a comprehensive species list for the Sky Island Mountains of Sonora, compiled from recent surveys. Spiders were collected using three methods: visual searching, foliage beating, and pitfall trapping. We report 29 new distributional records for spider species, four of which are new country records for Mexico and 25 for the state of Sonora. Additionally, we describe and image the vulva of Calilena arizonica Chamberlin & Ivie, 1941 for the first time, and provide images of 28 additional species. Our findings expand the known spider diversity in the region and reveal richness and compositional pattern in Rancho Las Playitas that exhibit low similarity to other spider communities from arid environments.

Estudiamos la diversidad, abundancia y composición de una comunidad de arañas en Rancho Las Playitas, Arizpe y Bacoachi, Sonora México. Además, se compiló una lista de arañas de las Islas Serranas (Archipiélago Madrense) de Sonora con base en colectas recientes. Las arañas se colectaron mediante tres métodos: búsqueda visual, golpeo en la vegetación y trampas de caída. Además, proporcionamos nuevos datos de distribución de 29 especies de arañas, de las cuales cuatro especies se registran por primera vez para México y 25 para el estado de Sonora. Adicionalmente, describimos e ilustramos la vulva de Calilena arizonica Chamberlin & Ivie, 1941 y proveemos imágenes de 28 especies adicionales. Nuestros resultados son una contribución al conocimiento de la diversidad de arañas en esta región y demuestra que los patrones de riqueza y composición en Las Playitas presentan una baja similitud en comparación con otras comunidades de las zonas áridas.

María-Luisa Jiménez, David Chamé-Vázquez, Carlos Palacios-Cardiel, Thomas R. Van Devender "Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from the Sky Island Mountains of Sonora: A survey at Rancho Las Playitas, Arizpe and Bacoachi with new species records for Mexico," The Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 100(3), 175-211, (4 October 2024) https://doi.org/10.3956/2024-100.3.175