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Home , Jumping spider, Myrmarachne, Sarinda (spider), Synageles, Zoropsidae

2006. The Journal of Arachnology 34:483–484

SHORT COMMUNICATION

THE FIRST RECORDS OF FORMICARIA (ARANEAE, SALTICIDAE) IN THE Richard A. Bradley: Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University at Marion, 1465 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Marion, Ohio 43302-5695, USA. E-mail: [email protected] Bruce Cutler: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, Kansas 66045-7534, USA Maggie Hodge: Department of Biological Sciences, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana 71497, USA

ABSTRACT. A population of has been discovered in northeastern Ohio. There is reason to believe that this , which is widespread in , is a recent accidental introduction to this area. This species seems to be well established, having been found with increasing frequency over the past three years. The species appears to be common in a variety of situations, including occasionally inside buildings. Keywords: Myrmarachne, -like, introduced species, Ohio

There have been several recent reports of The date and origin of this presumed introduction accidentally introduced that have established local are unknown. It seems likely that this species is a populations in . These include Linyphia recent introduction because it is a relatively large triangularis (Clerck 1757) (Jennings et al. 2002); Syn- (body length ϳ 6 mm), conspicuous and distinctive ageles venator (Lucas 1836) (Hutchinson & Limoges species, it is hard to imagine that it could have been 1998); and spinimana (Dufour 1820) (Gris- previously missed. The fact that this is day wold & Ubick 2001). We have discovered yet another active and prefers open sunny environments, com- such species, Myrmarachne formicaria (De Geer bined with its active foraging behavior make it un- 1778). This find represents the first observation of a likely that the species would have been overlooked member of this in North America. The large for an extended period. According to Locket & Mil- genus Myrmarachne (Araneae, Salticidae) includes lidge (1951) ‘‘It is a long slender spider with a su- over 200 species, with representatives on every bio- perficial resemblance to the ant Formica rufa Linn. geographic region except the Nearctic. It does not jump, but runs about in the grass, etc., The first specimen records of M. formicaria from sometimes in company with . It is adult in North America have all been from Ohio, USA: May–July, and is recognisable at once in the field.’’ from Warren, Trumble County on 16 August 2001; Other species in the genus Myrmarachne are said the J.H. Barrow Field Station, Portage County on to associate with particular species of ants (Ed- 15 September 2002; and at a residence near Pen- munds 1978). Myrmarachne formicaria does ap- insula, Summit County. Additional individuals have pear somewhat similar to one other ant-like salticid been observed by the third author in and around the J.H. Barrow Field Station and the Peninsula resi- that can be found in Ohio, hentzi (Banks dence during the summers of 2003 and 2004. The 1913). A search through extant historical collec- species appears to be fairly common and is active tions of S. hentzi from Ohio has not yielded addi- during the warm months of the year in open areas tional specimens of M. formicaria. It is true, how- as well as in buildings. It is sometimes associated ever, that relatively few spider researchers have with the local ants of the genus Formica.Itisthe investigated this portion of Ohio until recently. only ant-like North American in Myrmarachne formicaria is a Palearctic species which the male project forward more (Platnick 2004). It is tempting to speculate that than 50% of the carapace length, and in which the this species was inadvertently introduced into female palpal tarsus is dorsoventrally flattened and Ohio from Eurasia via human activities. This is the bent downward distally. second species of Eurasian ant-like salticid to be

483 484 THE JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY established in North America in recent years. Syn- Griswold, C.E. & D. Ubick. 2001. : a ageles venator (Lucas 1836) was first noted in the spider newly introduced to the USA (Ar- Montreal area in the early 1990’s and is now a aneae, , ). Journal of Ar- common house spider in southeast Quebec (Hutch- achnology 29:111–113. inson & Limoges 1998; Paquin & Dupe´rre´ 2003). Jennings, D.T., K.M. Catley & F. Graham, Jr. 2002. Possibly M. formicaria was imported with plant- Linyphia triangularis, a Palearctic spider (Ara- ing materials or horticultural plants. The species neae, ) new to North America. Jour- seems to be well established in Ohio. Individuals nal of Arachnology 30:455–460. have now been observed in four successive years. Hutchinson, R. & R. Limoges. 1998. Premie`re men- The fact that the species now occupies a span of tion de venator (Lucas) (Araneae: Sal- over 60 km in localities from three counties in NE ticidae) pour l’Ame´riqie du Nord. Fabreries 23: Ohio suggests that the species may be expanding 10–16. its range. Locket, G.H. & A.F. Millidge. 1951. British Spi- Material Examined.—USA: Ohio: Portage ders. Volume 1. The Ray Society, London. County: J.H. Barrow Field Station (41Њ18ЈN, Paquin P. & N. Dupe´rre´. 2003. Guide d’identification 81Њ08ЈW), 15 September 2002, R. Bradley, 1 &,1 des Araigne´es (Araneae) du Que´bec. Fabreries, ( (Ohio Spider Survey #SPM010921); Trumble Supple´ment 11. 251 pp. County: Warren (41Њ13ЈN, 80Њ50ЈW) in residence, Platnick, N.I. 2004. The World Spider Catalog, ver- 16 August, 2001, T. Robinson, 1 ( (Ohio Spider sion 4.5. American Museum of Natural History, Survey #SPM008004). New York. Online at http://research.amnh.org/ LITERATURE CITED entomology/spiders/catalog/index.html. Edmunds, M. 1978. On the association between Myrmarachne spp. (Salticidae) and ants. Bulletin Manuscript received 8 September 2004, revised 3 of the British Arachnological Society 4:149–160. December 2004.