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Home , Asemonea, Carrhotus, Carrhotus viduus, Hasarius adansoni, Hyllus (spider), Hyllus semicupreus

Bioscience Biotechnology Research Communications Vol 14 No (2) April-May-June 2021

Ecological Communication

On the Diversity of Jumping of Maharashtra,

Pawan U. Gajbe* Department of Zoology, Shri Mathuradas Mohota College of Science, Nagpur, India

ABSTRACT Family Salticidae (jumping spiders) is the largest family of spiders under order Araneae. Jumping spiders are ubiquitous in terrestrial ecosystems and are familiar to humans as they are also found in human dwellings and home gardens. They are well known for their complex vision-based behaviour, which include elaborate mating behaviours, stalking and capturing of prey , araneophagy and mimicry. Jumping spiders are generally diurnal in habit and being predators exclusively, they have an important role in the terrestrial food webs. Being well-represented in agro ecosystems, they have a significant role in the biological control of pest species. Despite being a major group, not much is known regarding the diversity, distribution, and behaviour of jumping spiders found in the various regions of India. Maharashtra is one of the largest states in India, however only a few records exist of the salticid fauna of Maharashtra. Hence, there was a need to ascertain the diversity of jumping spiders found in Maharashtra. The methodology which has been used to this purpose includes collection and identification of jumping spiders from different areas of Maharashtra and also the review of previously published reports. The jumping spiders of Maharashtra are represented by 29 species in 18 genera. This appears to be just a small portion of the salticid fauna actually found in Maharashtra and further work is required to thoroughly understand the diversity and biology of this group. This work highlights a neglected group of , provides an up-to-date number of salticid species known from Maharashtra, and shall be of help to future researchers.

KEY WORDS: -like , Arachnida, biocontrol, , fauna, Myrmarachne.

INTRODUCTION Jumping spiders have a pair of large forward facing anterior-median eyes, which are the principal eyes Currently 49,159 species of spiders in 4,207 genera of 128 (Fig. 1). They also have three pairs of smaller eyes called families are known from the world. Taking into account secondary eyes, which include one pair each of anterior- the number of species, family Salticidae (jumping spiders) lateral, posterior-median and posterior-lateral eyes. The is the largest family with 6334 species in 659 genera secondary eyes are highly proficient motion detectors. (World Spider Catalog 2021). Indian fauna The salticid eyes provide a near 360° field of view and consists of 181 species in 62 genera (Siliwal et al., 2005). forward-looking spatial resolution surpassing that of all It is difficult to estimate the actual number of jumping insects and even some mammals (Menda et al., 2014). spider species found in India as this group is very diverse but has not been thoroughly studied in India. Jumping Among arachnids, jumping spiders are agile and spiders are unique in the kingdom as they are dexterous jumpers and have a semi hydraulic system known for their intricate vision-based behaviour during of locomotion (Brandt et al., 2021). Diverse predatory encounters with prey and conspecific individuals. This is strategies have evolved in jumping spiders, including achieved using eyes specialized for discerning fine detail araneophagy, aggressive mimicry, myrmecophagy, and (Cerveira et al., 2019). prey-specific prey catching behaviour (Jackson and Pollard 1996; Brandt et al., 2021).

Article Information:*Corresponding Author: [email protected] Received: 04/05/2021 Accepted after revision: 29/06/2021 Published: 30th June 2021 Pp- 886-890 This is an open access article under CC License 4.0 Published by Society for Science & Nature, Bhopal India. Online at: https://bbrc.in/ Article DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21786/bbrc/14.2.67 886 U. Gajbe et al.,

Table 1. Jumping Spiders (Salticidae) of Maharashtra

S. No. Species Name References

1. Asemonea tenuipes (O.P.- Cambridge, 1869) Maheshwari et al., 2018 2. viduus (C.L. Koch, 1846) Deshmukh, 2017; Meshram, 2011; Vairale and Wagh, 2021; Warghat et al., 2011 3. adansoni (Audouin, 1826) Gajbe, 2016, 2020; Maheshwari et al., 2018 4. semicupreus (Simon, 1885) Ahmad and Satam, 2015; Deshmukh, 2017; Maheshwari et al., 2018; Meshram, 2011; Warghat et al., 2011 5. Marpissa kalapani Tikader, 1977 Deshmukh, 2017 6. bivittatus (Dufour, 1831) Gajbe, 2016, 2020; Maheshwari et al., 2018 7. Myrmaplata plataleoides (O.P.-Cambridge, 1869) Tikader, 1973; Warghat et al., 2011 8. Myrmarachne melanocephala MacLeay, 1839 Bastawade, 2006; Deshmukh, 2017; Meshram, 2011; Warghat et al., 2011 9. Myrmarachne poonaensis Tikader, 1973 Deshmukh, 2017; Tikader, 1973 10. Myrmarachne prava (Karsch, 1880) Warghat et al., 2011 11. Myrmarachne robusta (Peckham and Peckham, 1892) Tikader, 1973; Vairale and Wagh, 2021 12. Phidippus bengalensis Tikader, 1977 Deshmukh, 2017; Meshram, 2011 13. Phidippus bhimrakshiti Gajbe, 2004 Deshmukh, 2017; Meshram, 2011 14. Phintella vittata (C.L. Koch, 1846) Deshmukh and Tekade, 2019; 15. Phlegra dhakuriensis (Tikader, 1974) Maheshwari et al., 2018; Warghat et al., 2011

Deshmukh, 2017; Meshram, 2011; vairale and Wagh, 2021 16. andamanensis (Tikader, 1977) Deshmukh, 2017; Meshram, 2011; Warghat et al., 2011 17. Plexippus insulanus Thorell, 1881 Deshmukh and Tekade, 2019 18. Plexippus paykulli (Audouin, 1826) Bastawade and Khandal, 2006; Bhandarkar and Paliwal, 2019; Deshmukh, 2017; Deshmukh and Tekade, 2019; Gajbe, 2016, 2020; Maheshwari et al., 2018; Meshram, 2011; Warghat et al., 2011; Vairale and Wagh, 2021 19. Plexippus petersi (Karsch, 1878) Deshmukh and Tekade, 2019; Gajbe, 2016, 2020; Maheshwari et al., 2018 20. Proszynskia anusuae (Tikader and Biswas, 1981) Deshmukh, 2017; Meshram, 2011 21. Rhene decorata Tikader, 1977 Warghat et al., 2011 22. Rhene flavigera (C.L. Koch, 1846) Maheshwari et al., 2018 23. Rhene indica Tikader, 1973 Vairale and Wagh, 2021 24. Stenaelurillus jagannathae Das, Malik and Vidhel, 2015 Maheshwari et al., 2018 25. Stenaelurillus lesserti Reimoser, 1934 Maheshwari et al., 2018 26. dimidiata (Simon, 1899) Ahmed et al., 2019; Bhandarkar and P paliwal, 2019; Deshmukh and Tekade, 2019; Gajbe, 2016, 2020; Maheshwari et al., 2018; Meshram, 2011; Vairale and Wagh, 2021 27. Telamonia elegans (Thorell, 1887) Bastawade and Khandal, 2006 28. bhamoensis Thorell, 1887 Deshmukh, 2017; Meshram, 2011; Warghat et al., 2011 29. imperialis (Rossi, 1846) Maheshwari et al., 2018

887 Jumping Spiders of MaharashtrA BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS U. Gajbe et al., Jumping spiders perform a set of responses in catching one of such studies, 25 species of jumping spiders were prey. These responses consist of three primary patterns, found in two crops, namely yerba mate and tea with each of which is subdivided into discrete motor elements, their densities being 2.21 and 2.47 individuals per square namely, Orientation—alert, swivel, and alignment; metre for the two crops, respectively (Rubio et al., 2019). Pursuit—follow, run, and stalk; and Capture—pre‐crouch, Despite being rich in faunal diversity, there exist only a crouch, and jump. Portia is a of specialized web- few records of the salticid fauna of Maharashtra. In order invading jumping spiders that use aggressive mimicry to augment the knowledge of the diversity of jumping (Jackson 2009; Forster 2010).Portia fimbriata routinely spiders found in Maharashtra, an annotated checklist of includes web-building spiders and cursorial salticids the jumping spiders of Maharashtra has been provided in its diet, both of these types of prey being dangerous here. This is the first work of its kind on the jumping and unusual prey for a salticid. Jumping spiders are spiders of Maharashtra. It provides an up-to-date number basically diurnal predators. However,certain species of jumping spider species recorded from Maharashtra show vision-based discrimination under low ambient and adds to the biodiversity of the State. It shall be of light levels previously associated with nocturnal species assistance to researchers interested in exploring the (Li and Jackson 1996; Cerveira et al., 2019). Species in salticid fauna of Maharashtra. the genus Habronattus have high warming tolerances, suggesting that these species should be robust to future MATERIAL AND METHODS increases in habitat temperature (Brandt et al. 2020). Covering an area of 307,713 sq km, Maharashtra is the Jumping spiders being active hunters do not build webs. third largest state in India. It spans from the Central However, they do use their silk in different ways. For to the Western region of India. Arabian Sea lies to the salticids, dragline silk is critical for dynamic stability west of Maharashtra. The Western Ghats are located on and prey-capture efficiency (Chen et al., 2013). Jumping the western fringe of the State (Wikipedia 2021). An spiders also use their silk for constructing various types annotated checklist of jumping spiders of Maharashtra of retreats or shelters. For example, Myrmarachne has been prepared, which is based on the species collected spiders construct elaborate tubular shelters with multiple and identified by the author from Nagpur, Mumbai, entrances (Hurni-Cranston and Hill2018). Recently, an Ratnagiri, and Satara districts of Maharashtra during unidentified jumping spider (Anarrhotus sp.) from south- 2014 to 2019, as well as published reports on the diversity western India has been recorded as constructing planar and distribution of jumping spiders of Maharashtra by orb-webs that serve as nocturnal retreats. other researchers.

These webs are not inhabited during the daytime and do The collected spiders were preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol not appear to play a role in prey capture by these spiders and identified with the help of scientific literature (Hill et al., 2019). Jumping spiders display complex (Sebastian and Peter 2009; Gajbe 2020). The species patterns of mating behaviour. For example, Plexippus recorded in previous studies have been ascertained by paykulli males use different mating tactics depending on collecting research papers, books and chapters in edited the female's maturity and location (courtship versatility): books available in print and/or online, pertaining to the visual displays if the female is mature and away from salticid fauna of Maharashtra. References for each species her nest (Fig. 2), vibratory displays if she is mature and, recorded have been provided against their names in Table in her nest, and cohabitation if she is a sub-adult in her 1.The scientific names of jumping spiders are based on nest (Jackson and Macnab 1989; Hill et al., 2019). the World Spider Catalog (2021).

Male jumping spiders of the genus Habronattus court RESULTS AND DISCUSSION females using a combination of ornament and motion (dance) displays coordinated with vibrational songs. The salticid fauna of Maharashtra is represented by 29 Jumping spiders constitute one of the most important species in 18 genera (Table 1, Figs. 3-12). Species such groups of predaceous organisms in terrestrial ecosystems. as Hasarius adansoni, Plexippus paykulli and Plexippus They are ubiquitous in agroecosystems and are well- petersi are commonly observed in human dwellings known as biological control agents. Most biocontrol actively searching for prey on the walls of buildings. studies reflect the emphasis on specialist (monophagous) Plexippus paykulli is native to South-East but is predators and parasitoids. Spiders being prey generalists now found in different parts of the world. Other species (polyphagous), have not received much attention in such as Asemonea tenuipes, , Hyllus biocontrol studies. Recent research has highlighted semicupreus, Phintella vittata and Thyene imperialis widespread non-consumptive effects and complex are generally seen among foliage, where they can hide intraguild interactions of spiders. A better understanding and stalk insect prey, and also build silken retreats. of these effects is needed to optimize biocontrol services Menemerus bivittatus is a pantropical species that is often by spiders in agro ecosystems (Riechert and Lockley seen on the bark of trees or on the walls of buildings 1984; Michalko et al., 2018, Rivera et al., 2021). (Gajbe 2020).

Compared to other predator groups, very few studies Two-striped spider, is common have been conducted to ascertain the impact of jumping in Maharashtra and found in foliage. A few species of spiders as biocontrol agents of agricultural pests. In ant-like spiders of the genus Myrmarachne have been

BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS Jumping Spiders of Maharashtra 888 U. Gajbe et al., reported in one of the earliest works on the salticid fauna CONCLUSION of Maharashtra (Tikader 1973). These ant-like jumping spiders are remarkable since they not only mimic the The jumping spider fauna of Maharashtra is represented form of the arboreal ant, Oecophylla smaragdina, but by 29 species in 18 genera. Considering the large size also mimic its behaviour by making ant-like movements, of Maharashtra and the different types of terrestrial waving their front legs as if they are antennae habitats found in the State, the actual number of jumping (Gajbe 2020). spider species found in the State could be much more. Considering their ubiquity and unique adaptations among , jumping spiders require more attention from Figure 1-2: (1) Front eyes of Plexippus paykulli (2) researchers with respect to their diversity, distribution, Plexippus paykulli male and female displaying mating biology, behaviour and biocontrol properties. behaviour Figs. 3-12: (3) Carrhotus viduus (4) Hasarius adansoni (5) (6) Menemerus bivittatus (7) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Myrmaplata plataleoides (8) Phintella vittata (9) Plexippus petersi (10) Telamonia dimidiata (11) The author is thankful to the Principal, S. M. Mohota College of Science, Nagpur India for facilities. (12) Thyene imperialis preying on a Hymenopteran insect Conflict of Interests: None REFERENCES Ahmed, J., and Satam, Y. (2015). The structure and utilization of silk constructs by Hyllus semicupreus (Simon, 1885) (Araneae: Salticidae). Peckhamia, 125.1: 1-3. Ahmed, J., Khalap, R., Kumbhar, S., Hill, D.E., Pearce, R.J., and Mohan, K. (2019). Field notes on the jumping spider Telamonia dimidiata in Maharashtra (Araneae: Salticidae: Plexippina). Peckhamia, 181.1: 1-6. Bastawade, D.B. (2006). Araneae,in: Director, Z.S.I. (ed.) Fauna of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra), Conservation Area Series 25,Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, pp. 283-309. Recently, the ant-like species plataleoides has been Bastawade, D.B., and Khandal, D. (2006). Araneae. transferred from the genus Myrmarachne to Myrmaplata in: Director, Z.S.I. (ed.) Invertebrate Fauna of Sanjay (Prószynski 2016). A few salticid species have been Gandhi National Park, Borivali, Mumbai,Conservation reported from some protected conservation areas of Area Series 26,Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, pp. Maharashtra such as Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, 139-184. Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Toranmal Sanctuary, Umred Karhandla Sanctuary, Navegaon National Park, Bhandarkar, S.V., and Paliwal, G.T. (2018). First and Pench National Park (Bastawade 2006; Bastawade distribution record of spider fauna (Arachnida: Araneae) and Khandal 2006; Meshram 2011; Gajbe 2016; in Navegaon National Park (NNTR) Gondia Maharashtra. Bhandarkar and Paliwal 2018; Gajbe 2020). European Journal of Biotechnology and Bioscience, 7(1): 1-4. Five species of jumping spiders have been recorded from Brandt, E.E., Roberts, K.T., Williams, C.M., and Elias, D.O. Charghad River Basin in Amravati district (Deshmukh and (2020). Low temperatures impact species distributions Tekade 2019). Six species of jumping spiders have been of jumping spiders across a desert elevational cline. recorded from tropical reserve forest of Amravati district Journal of Insect Physiology, 122: 104037. (Vairale and Wagh 2021). Due to a paucity of research, Brandt, E.E., Sasiharan, Y., Elias, D.O., and Mhatre N. the jumping spider records from Maharashtra are sketchy (2021). Jump takeoff in a small jumping spider. Journal and probably represent only a small portion of the actual salticid fauna of Maharashtra. Consequently, more field of Comparative Physiology A. https://doi.org/10.1007/ surveys are required in different parts of the State to have s00359-021-01473-7 a true picture of the salticid fauna of Maharashtra. This cerveira, A.M., Jackson, R.R., andNelson, X.J. (2019). work is significant as it provides an up-to-date number Dim-light vision in jumping spiders (Araneae, of the jumping spiders species found in Maharashtra and Salticidae): identification of prey and rivals. Journal adds to the biodiversity of Maharashtra. This of Experimental Biology, 222: jeb198069 https://doi. will help researchers in proper identification and study org/10.1242/jeb.198069 of the jumping spiders of Maharashtra. chen, Y.K., Liao, C.P., Tsai, F.Y., and Chi, K.J. (2013). More than a safety line: jump stabilizing silk of

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BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS Jumping Spiders of Maharashtra 890