Herbivory in a spider through exploitation of an ant-plant mutualism.
Spiders are thought to be strict predators. We describe a novel exception: Bagheera kiplingi, a Neotropical jumping spider (Salticidae) that exploits a well-studied ant-plant mutualism, is predominantly herbivorous. From behavioral field observations and stable-isotope analyses, we show that the main diet of this host-specific spider comprises specialized leaf tips (Beltian food bodies; Figure 1A) from Vachellia spp. ant-acacias (formerly Acacia spp.), structures traded for protection in the plant's coevolved mutualism with Pseudomyrmex spp. ants that inhabit its hollow thorns. This is the first report of a spider that feeds primarily and deliberately on plants.
Meehan
Christopher J
CJ
Olson
Eric J
EJ
Reudink
Matthew W
MW
Kyser
T Kurt
TK
Curry
Robert L
RL
D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants; D007887:Fabaceae; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D008800:Mexico; D019370:Observation; D013112:Spiders / Q000502:physiology*; D013559:Symbiosis