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NewsletteroftheAustralasianArachnologicalSociety Australasian Arachnology No. 76 Page 2

THE AUSTRALASIAN ARTICLES ARACHNOLOGICAL The newsletter depends on your SOCIETY contributions! We encourage articles on a We aim to promote interest in the range of topics including current research ecology, behaviour and of activities, student projects, upcoming of the Australasian region. events or behavioural observations. MEMBERSHIP Please send articles to the editor:

Membership is open to amateurs, Volker Framenau students and professionals and is managed Department of Terrestrial Invertebrates by our administrator: Western Australian Museum Locked Bag 49 Richard J. Faulder Welshpool, W.A. 6986, . Agricultural Institute [email protected] Yanco, New South Wales 2703. Australia Format: i) typed or legibly printed on A4 [email protected] paper or ii) as text or MS Word file on CD, Membership fees in Australian dollars 3½ floppy disk, or via email. (per 4 issues): LIBRARY *discount personal institutional Australia $8 $10 $12 The AAS has a large number of NZ / Asia $10 $12 $14 reference books, scientific journals and elsewhere $12 $14 $16 papers available for loan or as photocopies, for those members who do There is no agency discount. not have access to a scientific library. All postage is by airmail. Professional members are encouraged to *Discount rates apply to unemployed, pensioners and students (please provide proof of status). send in their arachnological reprints. Cheques are payable in Australian Contact our librarian: dollars to “Australasian Arachnological Society”. Any number of issues can be paid Jean-Claude Herremans PO Box 291 for in advance. Receipts issued on request. Manly, New South Wales 1655. Members will receive a PDF-version of Australia Australasian Arachnology (hardcopies for email: [email protected] long-standing individual members, libraries and societies in exchange). Members will be notified by mail and/or email when their subscription has expired. COVER ILLUSTRATION: Protogarypinus giganteus from Two Peoples Previous issues of the newsletter are Bay, . available at www.australasian- Photo by Melinda Moir (det. Mark Harvey) arachnology.org/newsletter/issues. Australasian Arachnology No. 76 Page 3

EDITORIAL MEMBERSHIP UPDATES My apologies again for a belated issue 76 New Members (January instead of December), but I was visiting the Museum during Margaret Owen most of last month making editing this 86 Dalgleish St issue somewhat difficult. Wembley, WA 6014 [email protected] Australasian Arachnology 76 features a comprehensive update on the taxonomy Change of Address and systematics of jumping of Australia by Marek Zabka. Thanks a lot for Karl Brennan this interesting contribution! Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation It is great to see some arachnological PO Box 10173 student activities in . This issue Kalgoorlie, WA 6430 contains two theses abstracts: one by Sara [email protected] Ceccarelli (on ants and jumping spiders) and one by Adam Peck (on tree trunk Melinda Moir assemblages). Congratulations for Department of Terrestrial Invertebrates your great achievements and I hope you Western Australian Museum will stick to arachnids in your future Locked Bag 49 professional careers. Welshpool DC, WA 6986 [email protected] From this year, Australasian Arachnology will only be available as PDF-version for new individual members. This is to reduce ------printing and postal costs, and to avoid excessive use of paper. We will continue to LIBRARY provide printed issues for long-standing UPDATE members, some of which received Australasian Arachnology from the first issue. But beware, don’t lapse your Our librarian Jean-Claude Herremans membership, otherwise you will be treated received reprints of publications from as a new member with PDF access only! Helen Smith. Thanks Helen! Of course, libraries and societies will still All our members should consider receive the printed version, most of which donating reprints of their publications to receive the newsletter in exchange for their our library, which is an important source printed products. of information for our members without Cheers and all the best for 2007, access to a professional library! Volker I will include an updated list of our library holdings in the next newsletter!

Australasian Arachnology No. 76 Page 4

species described in this work are well th 17 International Congress of documented and recognisable with the Arachnology original illustrations. Modern taxonomic studies of São Pedro, São Paulo (Brazil) Australian Salticidae emerged 35 years ago. Proszynski (1971) catalogued salticid 5-10 August 2007 type material from major collections http://www.ib.usp.br/~ricrocha/ISA17/ISA.htm worldwide and verified the generic status of some of the species. The same author produced a two-volume atlas of diagnostic drawings (Proszynski 1984, 1987) and a catalogue (Proszynski 1990), all three of them eventually amalgamated into an online world catalogue of the Salticidae (Proszynski 2003). Davies and Zabka (1989) published a key to the 50 Australian genera of Salticidae with diagnoses and remarks on some species of uncertain taxonomic status. The interactive CD-Rom Spiders of Australia by Raven et al. (2002) was one of the latest contributions to include jumping spiders.

In the last 20 years nearly 140 new (Araneae, species and 14 genera were described (see Richardson and Zabka 2003; Salticidae) taxonomy and bibliography below), most of them by biogeography in Australia: myself (9 genera and 109 species) and by current state and future F.R. Wanless (4 genera and 25 species). prospects Thus, the current list of Australian jumping spiders comprises 355 species in 76 Marek Zabka, Academy of Podlasie, genera (8 of which are doubtful) Siedlce, Poland, email: (Richardson & Zabka 2003; Zabka, [email protected] unpublished data). These numbers, however, are far from complete. Recent The history of Australian jumping field research and a review of major spider (Salticidae) research started in the th Australian collections suggest an estimate mid 19 century and resulted in a number of close to a thousand species (Zabka, of papers, most of them by Karsch, C.L. unpublished data). This estimate is based Koch, L. Koch, Keyserling, Simon and on pre-and post-revision species numbers Thorell. Of the early works (for a complete of some better-studied genera, for listing see Roewer (1955) and Bonnet example (7 and 37 species (1955-1959)), the monumental Die respectively) (Zabka 1991). Similar Arachniden Australiens by L. Koch (1871- numbers were confirmed for the Astieae 1881) and Keyserling (1881-1890) (Wanless 1988), Lycidas (Zabka 1987), deserves special mention. Most of the 168 Australasian Arachnology No. 76 Page 5

Simaetha (Zabka 1994), Ocrisiona (Zabka group (currently 17 species), while B. 1990) and Afraflacilla (Zabka 1993b). Richardson’s (CSIRO, Canberra) taxonomic studies focus on revisions of Recent major advances in salticid Prostheclina (in collaboration with myself) taxonomy in Australia were made possible and Servaea. Michael Rix (Western by comprehensive surveys Australian Museum, Perth) described the conducted in particular by the Australian monotypic Judalana and some Museum (Sydney), the Queensland follow-up projects in collaboration with Museum (Brisbane) and the Western myself are currently being undertaken Australian Museum (Perth). These [Editors comment: Sara Ceccarelli revised surveys resulted in copious and diverse some species of the ant-mimicing genus material, mostly collected by pitfall Myrmarachne as part of her Ph.D. trapping (a method not applied by early studies, see abstract on page 11]. collectors). Some previously unknown or rare genera such as Tauala, Sondra, Taxonomic research on Salticidae Pseudosynagelides, Zebraplatys and suffers from difficulties in relation to the Paraplatoides proved quite common. Not uniformity and simplicity of the genitalia surprisingly, the richest taxonomic data and large intraspecific variation in are available for areas near major centres morphological characters. Wayne of arachnological research and those Maddison (University of British Columbia, areas subject to their research activities Vancouver) and co-workers showed that (Richardson et al. 2006). In contrast, some systematic problems, mostly at the some inland areas and most parts of family and genus level, could be solved topical Western Australia and the employing molecular techniques are still extremely (Maddison 1996, Hedin and Maddison poorly studied. 2001, Maddison and Hedin 2003). Few scientific institutions currently Modern biogeographical research that conduct taxonomic projects on Australian included Australian salticids was initiated Salticidae. Barbara Patoleta, J. by Main (1981a, 1981b, 1982). Gardzinska and myself work on the Subsequent analyses based on more genera Opisthoncus (some 30 species), complete data sets (including adjacent (more than 20 new species areas such as , , New from Australia alone), Cytaea and on the Caledonia, and New Zealand) were subfamily Dioleninae at the Academy of presented by Zabka (1990, 1991, 1993a), Podlasie (Siedlce, Poland). Our research Zabka et al. (2002), Zabka and Patoleta also includes New Guinea, Fiji and New (2004), Patoleta (2002) and Proszynski Caledonia. Dmitri Logunov (University of (1996). Some aspects of island Manchester) is working on the “Neon” biogeography were studied by Patoleta group, which actually comprises a number and Zabka (1999). of genera. The relationships between Patterns of salticid distribution based representatives of Neon from the on biotic and climatic parameters were Southern and Northern Hemispheres may discussed by Richardson et al. (2006), be crucial for understanding the origin of while Harvey et al. (2000) and Churchill salticid faunas worldwide. Julianne (1996, 1999) presented interesting Waldock (Western Australian Museum, contributions to the ecology and regional Perth) is revising Maratus (over 20 species) and the Lycidas chrysomelas- Australasian Arachnology No. 76 Page 6 biogeography of spiders (including Salticidae) in Australia. Due to its long-term isolation and evolution of unique climates and biota, the Australian salticid fauna is highly diverse and many taxa represent endemic “prisoners” of the continent with only limited abilities to colonise more or less distant areas such as New Guinea, New Caledonia, Fiji or New Zealand (Zabka 1993a, Zabka et al. 2002, Patoleta 2002). No significant links to other southern (post-Gondwanan) faunas have so far been established, although very little research has been conducted on the fauna of Nothofagus and other wet temperate forest, especially in southern parts of the continent and .

Suggested future research directions 1. Many areas of central, northern and western Australia are still blank spots from taxonomic, ecological and biogeographical perspectives. 2. The study of Nothofagus forests Photo: Megalastia mainae Zabka, 1995 and other temperate may from the Mitchell Plateau, Kimberleys shed a new light on the origins of the (Western Australia). These salticids are Australian salticid fauna. large; the male holotype has legs ranging 3. The analysis of (micro) habitats, from 29.5 – 45mm! biotic and climatic parameters may Photo: Jiri Lochman (via J.M. Waldock) contribute to the knowledge on the evolution of the fauna in the last 45 million years. Bibliography and suggested reading 4. Some large and difficult genera Bonnet P. 1955. Bibliographia Araneorum. such as “Neon”, Servaea, “Lycidas” 2(1). Les Frères Douladoure, or require revision, as their Toulouse, 1-918. affinities may be important for understanding the history of the Bonnet P. 1956. Bibliographia Araneorum. Australian fauna. 2(2). Les Frères Douladoure, Toulouse, 919-1926. Bonnet P. 1957. Bibliographia Araneorum. 2(3). Les Frères Douladoure, Toulouse, 1927-3026. Australasian Arachnology No. 76 Page 7

Bonnet P. 1958. Bibliographia Araneorum. spiders from the southern Carnarvon 2(4). Les Frères Douladoure, Toulouse, Basin, Western Australia: a 3027-4230. consideration of biogeographic relationships. Records of the Western Bonnet P. 1959. Bibliographia Araneorum. Australian Museum Supplement 61, 2(5). Les Frères Douladoure, Toulouse, 295-321. 4231-5058. Hedin M.C. and Maddison W.P. 2001. A Churchill T.B. 1996. Coastal heathland combined molecular approach to spiders: spatial distribution and phylogeny of the jumping spider biogeographic significance. Records of subfamily Dendryphantinae (Araneae, the Queen Museum and Art Salticidae). Molecular Phylogenetics Gallery 103, 151-158. and Evolution 18, 386-403. Churchill T.B. 1999. Measuring spider Koch, L. (1871-1881). Die Arachniden richness: effects of different sampling Australiens. Nach der Natur methods and spatial and temporal beschrieben und abgebildet. Volume scales. Journal of Insect Conservation 1. Bauer und Raspe, Nürnberg, pp. 1- 3, 287-295. 1271. Davies T.V. and Zabka M. 1989. Keyserling, E. 1881-1883. Die Arachniden Illustrated keys to the genera of Australiens. Nach der Natur jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) beschrieben und abgebildet. Volume in Australia. Memoirs of the 1. Bauer und Raspe, Nürnberg, pp. Queensland Museum 27, 189-266. 1272-1489. Gardzinska J. 1996. New species and Keyserling, E. 1886-1890. Die Arachniden records of Astieae (Araneae: Australiens. Nach der Natur Salticidae) from Australia and Papua beschrieben und abgebildet. Volume New Guinea. Memoirs of the 2. Bauer und Raspe, Nürnberg, pp. Queensland Museum 39, 297-305. 87-274. Gardzinska J. 2006. A revision of the Logunov D.V. 2000. A redefinition of the spider genus Ohilimia Strand, 1911 genera Peckham & Peckham, (Araneae: Salticidae). Annales 1885 and Harmochirus Simon, 1885, Zoologici 56, 375-385. with the establishment of a new genus Gardzinska J. and Zabka M. 2005. A Sibianor gen. n. (Aranei: Salticidae). revision of the spider genus Arthropoda Selecta 9, 221-286. Chalcolecta Simon, 1884 (Araneae: Maddison W.P. 1996. Molecular Salticidae). Annales Zoologici 55, 437- approaches and the growth of 448. phylogenetic biology. In: Molecular Gardzinska J. and Zabka M. 2006. A Zoology: Advances, Strategies, and revision of the spider genus Diolenius Protocols (Ferraris J.D. and Palumbi Thorell, 1870 (Araneae: Salticidae). S.R., eds.). Wiley-Liss, New York, pp. Annales Zoologici 56, 487-433. 47-63. Harvey M.S., Sampey A., West P.L.J. and Maddison W.P. and Hedin M.C. 2003. Waldock J.M. 2000. Araneomorph Jumpig spider phylogeny (Araneae: Australasian Arachnology No. 76 Page 8

Salticidae). Invertebrate Systematics Salticidae. Zesz nauk WSR-P, 17, 529-549. Siedlce, 177 pp. Main B.Y. 1981a. Australian spiders: Proszynski J. 1987. Atlas rysunkow diversity, distribution and ecology. In: diagnostycznych mniej znanych Ecological Biogeography of Australia Salticidae. Zesz. nauk. WSR-P, (Keast A., ed.). Junk, The Hague, Siedlce, 172 pp. Boston, London, pp. 808-852. Proszynski J. 1990. Catalogue of Main B.Y. 1981b. A comparative account Salticidae (Araneae). Synthesis of of the biogeography of terrestrial quotations in the world literature since invertebrates in Australia: some 1940, with the basic taxonomic data generalizations. In: Ecological since 1758. WSR-P, Siedlce, 366 pp. Biogeography of Australia. (Keast A., ed.). Junk, The Hague, Boston, Proszynski J. 1992. Salticidae (Araneae) London, pp. 1057-1077. of the Old World and Pacific Islands in several US collections. Annales Main B.Y. 1982. Some zoogeographic Zoologici 44, 87-163. considerations of families of spiders occurring in New Guinea. In: Proszynski J. 1996. Salticidae (Araneae) Biogeography and Ecology in New distribution over Indonesian and Guinea (Gessitt, J.L., ed.). Junk, The Pacific Islands. Revue Suisse de Hague, Boston, London, pp. 583-602. Zoologie, volume hors série 2, 531- 536. Patoleta B. 2002. Analiza zoogeograficzna faun pajakow z rodziny Salticidae Proszynski J. 2003. Salticidae (Araneae) (Arachnida: Araneae) wysp Pacyfiku of the World. Available at: na przykladzie Nowej Kaledonii i Fidzi. http://salticidae.org/salticid/main.htm. [Zoogeographical analysis of the (Verified 2 December 2006). spider family Salticidae (Arachnida: Raven R.J. 1984. Phiale crocuta Araneae) of the examples of New (Taczanowski, 1879), a Pacific salticid. Caledonia and Fiji]. PhD thesis, Australasian Arachnology 16, 5-7. University of Podlasie, Siedlce, Poland. Raven R.J., Baehr B.C. and Harvey M.S. 2002. Spiders of Australia. Interactive Proszynski J. 1971. Catalogue of Identification to Subfamily Level. CD- Salticidae (Aranei) specimens kept in ROM. CSIRO Publishing/Australian major collections of the world. Annales Biological Resources Study. Zoologici 28, 367-519. Richardson B.J. and Zabka M. 2003. Proszynski J. 1983. Redescriptions of Salticidae. In: The Australian Faunal types of Oriental and Australian Directory, Arachnida: . Salticidae (Aranei) in the Hungarian Australian Biological Resources Study, Natural History Museum, Budapest. Canberra. Available at Folia Entomologica Hungarica 44, http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi- 283-297. bin/abrs/fauna/details.pl?pstrVol=ARA Proszynski J. 1984. Atlas rysunkow NEOMORPHAE;pstrTaxa=8502;pstrC diagnostycznych mniej znanych hecklistMode=1 (Verified 28 December 2006). Australasian Arachnology No. 76 Page 9

Richardson B.J. and Zabka M. In press. A Bulletin of the British Mususeun revision of the Australian jumping Natural History (Zoology) 47, 445-481. spider genus Prostheclina Keyserling, 1892 (Araneae: Salticidae). Records Wanless F.R. 1984. A revision of the of the Australian Museum. spider subfamily nom. n. (Araneae: Salticidae) with description Rix M.G. 1999. A new genus and species of six new genera. Bulletin of the of ant-mimicking jumping spider British Mususeun Natural History (Araneae: Salticidae) from southeast (Zoology) 46, 135-205. Queensland, with notes on its biology. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum Wanless F.R. 1987. Notes on spiders of 43, 827-832. the family Salticidae. 1. the genera Spartaeus, Mintonia and Taxarella. Roewer C.F. 1955 [imprint date 1954]. Bulletin of the British Mususeun Katalog der Araneae von 1758 bis Natural History (Zoology) 52, 107-137. 1940, bzw. 1954. 2. Band, Abt. b. (Salticiformia, Cribellata) (Synonyma- Wanless F.R. 1988. A revision of the Verzeichnis, Gesamtindex). Institut spider group Astieae (Araneae: royal des Sciences naturelles de Salticidae) in the Australian region. Belgique, pp. 927-1751. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 15, 81-172. Waldock J.M. 1995. A new species of Maratus from southwestern Australia Zabka M. 1987. Salticidae (Araneae) of (Araneae: Salticidae). Record of the Oriental, Australian and Pacific Western Australian Museum Regions, I. Genera Clynotis and . Supplement 52, 165-169. Annales Zoologici 40, 437-450. Waldock J.M. 2002. Redescription of Zabka M. 1987. Salticidae (Araneae) of Lycidas chrysomelas (Simon) Oriental, Australian and Pacific (Araneae: Salticidae). Record of the Regions, II. Genera Lycidas and Western Australian Museum 21, 227- Maratus. Annales Zoologici 40, 451- 234. 482. Wanless F.R. 1978. A revision of the Zabka M. 1988. Salticidae (Araneae) of spider genus (Araneae: Oriental, Australian and Pacific Salticidae). Bulletin of the British Regions, III. Annales Zoologici 41, Museum of Natural History (Zoology) 421-480. 34, 83-124. Zabka M. 1990a. Salticidae (Araneae) of Wanless F.R. 1981. A revision of the Oriental, Australian and Pacific spider genus Cocalus (Araneae: Regions, IV. Genus Ocrisiona Simon Salticidae). Bulletin of the British 1901. Records of the Australian Mususeun Natural History (Zoology) Museum 42, 27-43. 41, 253-261. Zabka M. 1990b. Remarks on Salticidae Wanless F.R. 1984. A revision of the (Araneae) of Australia. Annales spider genus Cyrba (Araneae: Zoologici Fennici 190, 415-418. Salticidae) with the description of a Zabka M. 1991a. Salticidae (Arachnida: new presumptive dispersing organ. Araneae) of Oriental, Australian and Australasian Arachnology No. 76 Page 10

Pacific Regions, V. Genus Holoplatys Zabka M. 1995. Salticidae (Arachnida: Simon 1885. Records of the Australian Araneae) of Oriental, Australian and Museum 43, 171-240. Pacific Regions, XI. A new genus of Astiae from Western Australia. Zabka M. 1991b. Salticidae (Arachnida: Records of the Western Australian Araneae) of Oriental, Australian and Museum Supplement 52, 159-164. Pacific Regions, VI. Mopsolodes, Abracadabrella and Pseudo- Zabka M. 2000. Salticidae (Arachnida: synagelides - new genera from Araneae) of Oriental, Australian and Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Pacific Regions, XIII: the genus Museum 30, 621-644. Sandalodes Keyserling. Invertebrate Taxonomy 14, 695-704. Zabka M. 1991c. Studium taksonomiczno- zoogeograficzne nad Salticidae Zabka M. 2001. Salticidae (Arachnida: (Arachnida: Araneae) Australii. Araneae) of Oriental, Australian and Rozprawy 32, WSR-P Siedlce, 110 pp. Pacific regions, XIV. The genus Adoxotoma Simon. Records of the Zabka M. 1992a. Salticidae (Arachnida: Western Australian Museum 20, 323- Araneae) of Oriental, Australian and 332. Pacific Regions, VII. Grayenulla and Paraplatoides - new genera from Zabka M. 2002. Salticidae (Arachnida: Australia. Records of the Australian Araneae) from the Oriental, Australian Museum 44, 167-183. and Pacific Regions, XV. New species of Astieae from Australia. Records of Zabka M. 1992. Salticidae (Arachnida: the Australian Museum 54, 257-268. Araneae) of Oriental, Australian and Pacific Regions, VIII. A new genus Zabka M. 2003. Salticidae (Arachnida, from Australia. Records of the Araneae) from Oriental, Australian and Western Australian Museum 15, 673- Pacific Regions, XVII. Paraphilaeus, a 684. new genus from Australia. Annales Zoologici 53, 489-507. Zabka M. 1993a. Salticidae (Arachnida: Araneae) of New Guinea - a Zabka M. and Gray M. 2002. Salticidae zoogeographic account. Bolletino dell' (Arachnida: Araneae) from Oriental, Accademia Gioenia di Scienze Australian and Pacific Regions, XVI. Naturali, Catania 26, 389-394. New species of Grayenulla and Afraflacilla. Records of the Australian Zabka M. 1993b. Salticidae (Arachnida: Museum 54, 269-274. Araneae) of Oriental, Australian and Pacific Regions, IX. Genera Afraflacilla Zabka M. and Gray M. 2004. Salticidae Berland & Millot 1941 and Evarcha (Arachnida: Araneae) from Oriental, Simon 1902. Invertebrate Taxonomy Australian and Pacific Regions, XVII. 7, 279-295. Huntiglennia – a new genus from Australia. Annales Zoologici 54, 297- Zabka M. 1994. Salticidae (Arachnida: 300. Araneae) of Oriental, Australian and Pacific Regions, X. Genus Simaetha Zabka M. and Patoleta B. 2004. In search Thorell. Records of the Western for southern jumping spiders Australian Museum, 16, 499-534. (Araneae: Salticidae). Abstracts, III Australasian Arachnology No. 76 Page 11

Southern Connection Congress, Cape analysed, including instances when there Town. was contact between the spider and the ant. In Townsville the salticid Zabka M., Pollard S. and Anstey M. 2002. Cosmophasis bitaeniata and one Zoogeography of Salticidae (Arachnida: Myrmarachne species associate with Araneae) of New Zealand - first approach. workers. The Annales Zoologici 52, 459-464. Myrmarachne mimics the ant visually, and Zabka M. and Richardson B. 2004. The Cosmophasis bitaeniata mimics the jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) cuticular hydrocarbons of the O. of different floristic formations in smaragdina worker ants. Cosmophasis Australia. Abstracts, 16th International and Myrmarachne also mimic ants Congress of Arachnology, Ghent, p. through certain types of behaviour, such 185. as the “antennal illusion” and bobbing the opisthosoma up and down. The behaviour of both salticids to O. smaragdina was ------compared. This Myrmarachne was also studied with a hemipteran mimic of O. PH.D. THESIS smaragdina, Riptortus serripes, to see ABSTRACT whether the salticid could discriminate between the potentially dangerous ant

and its hemipteran mimic. The history of Dynamics of Salticid-Ant the evolutionary dynamics between Mimicry Systems Myrmarachne and the model ant species were studied by analysing molecular F. Sara Ceccarelli phylogenies of the two taxa. School of Tropical Biology James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 [email protected]

Supervisors: Dr. R.J. Rowe, Prof. R.H. Crozier and Prof. R.R. Jackson (external)

Mimicry in is seen as an example of evolution by natural selection through predation pressure. The aggressive nature of ants, and their possession of noxious chemicals, stings and strong mandibles make them unfavourable prey for many . The resemblance of a similar-sized to an ant can therefore also protect the mimic from predation. Myrmarachne is an ant-mimicking salticid spider genus, whose species associate closely with their Myrmarachne sp. model ant species. The behavioural Photo: Sara Ceccarelli reactions of Myrmarachne to ants were Australasian Arachnology No. 76 Page 12

In a confined space, Myrmarachne and evolutionary dynamics of these species displayed versatile reactions to salticids and their model ants represents sympatric ants that were dependent on a case of plasticity and versatility by the factors such as the position of the ant and salticids. the distance between the Myrmarachne and the ant. Myrmarachne also showed ------interspecific differences in their reactions to ants. All Myrmarachne species avoided contact with the ants whenever possible. HONOURS THESIS Even when there was contact between the ABSTRACT two, Myrmarachne managed to avoid being attacked by the ant. Cosmophasis Spiders in Restored Habitat: bitaeniata also avoided contact with ants. C. bitaeniata and Myrmarachne had the How Important are Dead same reaction types to ants, but actions Standing Trees? occurred at different frequencies. Overall, there were more similarities than Adam Peck differences between the ways these two School of Environmental Science salticids interacted with O. smaragdina Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150. worker ants, even though Myrmarachne [email protected] and C. bitaeniata have different methods of mimicking the ants. As for the types of Supervisors: Dr. Michael Craig, Prof. behavioural mimicry, there was a Richard Hobbs, Dr. Andrew Grigg, Dr. significant difference between Karl Brennan and Dr. Trish Fleming Myrmarachne species, as well as between the two salticid genera. When There is relatively little known about any Myrmarachne was presented with another potential benefits to invertebrates of the morphological ant mimic (the alydiid bug provision of standing dead trees in areas Riptortus serripes), the spiders’ reactions rehabilitated following major disturbances. differed from those displayed towards the This study describes the effects on ants. These differences indicate that spiders of a tree thinning experiment at Myrmarachne can distinguish the ant and Huntly Bauxite mine, 110 km south-east the bug using visual cues (perhaps of Perth, Western Australia, that created a through the structure of the mouthparts, or large number of dead stags in a the way the two insects move around). rehabilitated mine pit by notching and herbicide injection. Spiders were sampled So behaviourally, Myrmarachne is a over a six-month period on 159 jarrah versatile genus apparently under strong (Eucalyptus marginata) trees using bark selection pressure and showing a high traps, which catch spiders as they walk up rate of differentiation and speciation. The the tree trunk (Figs 1). Small dead and phylogenetic study also reflects strong live trees were sampled in a restored selection pressure, resulting in highly mine pit and surrounding forest in order to polymorphic species. Myrmarachne assess the benefit of dead stags to species have undergone adaptive spiders and to compare spider distribution radiation and speciation as they evolved in the forest and mine pit. In the forest, towards resembling their different model three tree size categories were sampled ant species. Therefore the behavioural to study the effect of tree size on spiders. Australasian Arachnology No. 76 Page 13

The habitat available to spiders on Recent Australasian individual trees was measured and included bark characteristics and crack Arachnological dimensions. In total, 1,537 adult spiders Publications were caught, representing 115 species This column aims to collate and 24 families. Most spiders were active arachnological publications that were hunters, the remainder being web issued (but not yet those ‘in press’) since spinners. In general, dead trees the last volume of Australasian supported fewer spiders and less species. Arachnology. These include: Ø papers on Australasian arachnology and Ø papers written by Australasian arachnologists (including non- papers). I am particularly interested in listing entries of publications that are not easily traceable through the common library search engines, including theses and abstracts of theses. Please provide me with information on your latest publications for the next issue.

Arango, C.P. & Maxmen, A. 2006. Figure 1: A bark trap as employed during Porboscis ornamentation as a the study on the importance of dead diagnostic character for the standing trees. Photo: Adam Peck Anoplodactylus californicus-digitatus The distribution of species was more complex (Arthropoda: Pycnogonida) even on dead forest trees. While the mine with an example from the pit had fewer spiders, richness and Anoplodactylus eroticus female. diversity were similar. There were no Zootaxa 1311, 51-64. effects of tree size on spiders. It is Beavis, A.S. & Rowell, D.M. 2006. Phylo- suggested that higher spider abundance geography of two species of and richness on live trees than on dead funnelweb spider (Hadronyche sp. 1 trees was due to the higher bark cover and Atrax sp. 1) in Tallaganda State and decortication of live trees, which increase the amount of microhabitat Forest (NSW). In: Insect Biodiversity available to spiders and may also and Dead Wood: Proceedings of a increase prey abundance. The creation of Symposium for the 22 International dead stags is of little or no benefit to Congress of Entomology. General spiders. Technical Report (Grove, S.J. & Hanula, J.L., eds), US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern ------Research Station, Asheville, North Carolina, pp. 23-29. Australasian Arachnology No. 76 Page 14

Brennan K.E.C., Ashby L., Majer J.D., Newsletter of the British Arach- Moir M.L. & Koch J.M. 2006. nological Society 105, 6-7. Simplifying assessment of forest management practices for Lim, M.L.M. & Li, D. 2006. Extreme invertebrates: How effective are higher ultraviolet sexual dimorphism in taxon and habitat surrogates for jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae). spiders following prescribed burning? Biological Journal of the Linnean Forest Ecology & Management 231: Society 89, 397-406. 138-154. Mansfield S., Dillon M.L. & Whitehouse Dashdamirov, S. 2006. A new species of M.E.A. 2006. The impact of season- the false-scorpion family Cheliferidae long insecticide regimes on beneficial from , with remarks on arthropod communities in Australian Ancistrochelifer and Metachelifer cotton fields. Agriculture, Ecosystems (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones). and Environment 113, 326-335. Zootaxa 1325, 347-362. Moir, M.L. & Fletcher, M.J. 2006. Two Elgar, M.A. & Allan, R.A. 2006. Colony new species of Anabunda Emaljanov specific mimicry of the weaver ant (Hemiptera: Flgoromorpha: Achilidae) Oecophylla smaragdina by the from Australia. Zootaxa 1328, 39-50. myrmecophilous salticid spider Schwendinger, P. 2006. A taxonomic Cosmophasis bitaeniata. Journal of revision of the family Oncopodidae VI. Ethology 24, 239-246. Martensiellus, a new genus from Gardzinska, J. & Zabka, M. 2006. A , and the discovery of a tarsal revision of the spider genus Diolenius pore organ in Oncopodidae (Opiliones: Thorell, 1870 (Araneae: Salticidae. Laniatores). Zootaxa 1325, 255-266. Annales Zoologici 56, 387-433. Woodman, J.D., Ash J.E. & Rowell, Hosseini, R., Keller, M.A., Schmidt, O. & D.M. 2006. Climatic modelling for Framenau, V.W. 2007. Molecular Tallaganda State Forest, NSW, identification of wolf spiders (Lyco- relative to population structuring sidae) by Multiplex Polymerase Chain among saproxylic invertebrates. Reaction. Biological Control 40, 128- Journal of Zoology, London 268, 325- 135. 333. King, D.F. 2006 A male 'funnel-web Yoo, J.-S. & Framenau, V.W. 2006. spider, Selenocosmia sterlingi, Systematics and biogeo-graphy of the Theraphosidae, Geelong Naturalist, 42 genus Venonia (Araneae, Lycosidae). Invertebrate Systematics (1), (Geelong Field Naturalist Club). 20, 675-712. King, D.F. 2006. Tarsal brush and Zabka M. 2006. Salticidae (Arachnida, scopula, Selenocosmia sterlingi, Araneae) from Oriental, Australian and Theraphosidae, Geelong Naturalist 42 Pacific Regions, XIX. Genus Pellenes (2) (Geelong Field Naturalist Club). Simon, 1876 in Australia. Annales Kozlowski M. & Zabka M. 2006. Nuptial Zoologici 56, 567-573. Feeding in Sitticus terebratus (Clerck,

1757) (Araneae: Salticidae)? Australasian Arachnology No. 76 Page 15

Conferences:

Invertebrate Biodiversity and Conservation Conference 2007 Joint annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE), the Pacific Priorities Society of Systematic Biologists (SSB), Brisbane, Australia, 3-7 December 2007 and the American Society of Naturalists (ASN) http://www.ibcc2007.org

Christchurch, New Zealand, 16-20 June 2007 The Entomological Society of Southern http://www.evolution2007.com/index.htm hosts the XXII International Congress of Entomology at the International Australasian Evolution Society th Convention Centre in Durban, South 5 Conference Africa from 6-11 July 2008. The University of New South Wales, http://www.ice2008.org.za Sydney, 12-15 June 2007 http://aes.eriophora.com.au/events/AES07.htm

Australasian Arachnology Issue 76 January 2007

Contents

Editorial………………………………………………………. 3 Membership Updates………………………………………. 3 Feature Article: Jumping spider (Araneae, Salticidae) taxonomy and biogeography in Australia: current state and future prospects by Marek Zabka………….……………………...………… 4 Thesis Abstract (Ph.D.): Dynamics of Salticid-Ant Mimicry Systems by Sara Ceccarelli…….……………………...……...…… 11 Thesis Abstract (Honours): Spiders in Restored Habitat: How Important are Dead Standing Trees? by Adam Peck…………………………………….....…….. 12 Recent Australasian Arachnological Publications………. 13 Conference Announcements……………………………… 15