The predatory strategy, natural diet, and life cycle of Cyrba algerina, an araneophagic jumping spider (Salticidae: Spartaeinae) from Azerbaijan

The life cycle and natural diet of Cyrba algerina (Lucas) in the Apsheron Peninsula (Azerbaijan) was determined by sampling at frequent intervals throughout the year. Early‐instar juveniles emerged in late July, grew to about half of adult size by winter, over‐wintered and then, in the spring of the following year, grew to adult size and reached maturity. The primary mating season was in May, after which the number of adults in the population declined sharply. Ten arthropod orders were represented in the prey records from nature. Six of these were insects and four were arachnids. Spiders (order Araneae) were the dominant prey, accounting for 56% of the records. Half of these spiders were from one family, Oecobiidae. In laboratory prey‐choice tests, C. algerina selected spiders in preference to insects and selected oecobiids in preference to other spiders. Video taping under infrared light confirmed that the Azerbaijan C. algerina captures prey in complete darkness.