Comparative study of lyssomanine jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae): Silk use and predatory behaviour of Asemonea, Goleba, Lyssomanes , and Onomastus

This is the first behavioural study of Asemonea murphyi and Goleba puella from Kenya, Lysomanes patens and two unidentified species of Lyssomanes from Costa Rica: Onomastus nigricauda from Sri Lanka, and Onomastus holmi from Thailand. The manner in which these lyssomanine salticids catch prey and use silk is investigated and published information about other species is reviewed. All studied lyssomanines are similar to each other but differ significantly from typical salticids in some of their behaviours. Like typical salticids, lyssomanines spin nests which serve as sites for resting, moulting, and ovipositing. Unlike typical salticid nests, lyssomanine nests are large and sheet‐like and assist during predation by temporarily detaining prey. During cursorial predation, lyssomanines often omit elements which are usually present in predatory sequences of typical salticids. Lyssomanines differ from typical salticids because they tend to ambush rather than stalk prey and to lunge at prey from close range instead of leaping on it. Behavioural similarities between lyssomanines are discussed in relation to the taxonomic status of Old and New World lyssomanines and in relation to salticid evolution.