Hidden diversity in plain sight: four new species of Nemesia (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) from the Córdoba Province of Spain

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  Hidden diversity in plain sight: four new species of Nemesia (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) from the Córdoba Province of Spain Abstract A taxonomic revision of the species of Nemesia Audouin, 1826, distributed in the vicinity of Córdoba City, southern Spain, is presented. Four new species are described: Nemesia morana sp. nov. (female), N. kodama sp. nov. (male and female), N. rosae sp. nov. (male and female), and N. tamajoni sp. nov. (male and female). These species are distinguished by distinct morphological characters, including the shape of the spermathecae, palpal bulbs, and spinnerets, as well as by burrow architecture. Fieldwork was conducted across two of the three major habitat types in the region—the humid, forested mountains of Sierra Morena and the croplands and riparian forests of the Guadalquivir Valley—while the third, the “campiña”, which is mainly composed of agricultural landscapes, remains poorly explored. Sampling methods included pitfall trapping and the direct e...

Differences in Behavioural Responses in Intra- and Intersexual Interactions of the Sun Jumping Spider, Helafricanus fascinatus, in South Africa

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Differences in Behavioural Responses in Intra- and Intersexual Interactions of the Sun Jumping Spider, Helafricanus fascinatus, in South Africa

Abstract

Jumping spiders (Salticidae) are well known for their highly visual and often vibrant displays initiated by males. These displays can occur while males are searching for potential mates and encounter another male (intrasexual), or when males interact with a female (intersexual). While these displays have been widely reported in the literature, the differences between behavioural repertoires for these encounters is still not well understood. Here we described and quantified the repertoire of different behaviour used in intra- and intersexual visual communication (non-aggressive and aggressive) exhibited by males and females during two types of interactions, male-male (n = 12) and male-female (n = 16), of the sun jumping spider, Helafricanus fascinatus Wesolowska, 1986. From the 28 different pairings, we found differences in the types of behaviour exhibited along with the corresponding duration performed by males during male-male and male-female interactions. While in the presence of another male, H. fascinatus males exhibited a higher proportion of “display” behaviour as a potential form of assessment of opponent, intimidation and/or threat display, whereas in the presence of females, males were more likely to use “movement” behaviour which may allow males to capture and retain the attention of females and potentially reduce the distance between spiders. Interestingly, during male-female interactions, males exhibited higher proportions of aggressive behaviour while courting females. For copulation success, neither body size nor body condition correlated with copulations in male-female pairings. We discuss our results in the context of intra- and intersexual interactions and how males may shift their behavioural repertoires depending on the sex.

Vickers, M.E., Booysen, R. & Haddad, C.R. Differences in Behavioural Responses in Intra- and Intersexual Interactions of the Sun Jumping Spider, Helafricanus fascinatus, in South Africa. J Insect Behav 38, 30 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-025-09894-x