Meeting Abstract
Various species of spiders have been generally labeled as being simply social or asocial. In reality, there is a large range of variation and substantial multidimensionality across spider social behavior. Our goal in this study was to explore the biochemical influences that may regulate sociality in spiders. In doing so, two different female species, both semi-social yet distantly related, were tested to explore variations in modulation of sociality. Leucauge venusta, the Orchard orbweaver, and Araneus diadematus, Cross orbweaver, were used as model species since both species have previously been shown to display clustering behavior under certain circumstances and at different life stages. We specifically hypothesized that sociality would be influenced by exposure to Juvenile Hormone (JH). JH has been shown to play a central role in the modulation of both behavior and physical development in invertebrates. Specifically, elevated JH has been shown to maintain juvenile morphological features as the organism develops; when JH drops invertebrates molt into their adult form and become reproductively active. In turn, we believe JH may also play a central role in regulation of social tolerance; given that juvenile spiders exhibit increased social tolerance and JH maintains juvenile physiology, it is likely that increased levels of JH may result in the maintenance of juvenile-form social tolerance into adulthood. To test this, 12 spiders of each species were dosed with either methoprene (a JH agonist) or a control treatment every other day for 15 days. During this time, we measured the distance between spiders, their distribution within the housing environment and features of their web placement. Here we will discuss outcomes of this study and the possible relationship to the evolution of spiders and sociality in general.
