Cues by which suspended-leaf nests of Euryattus (Araneae: Salticidae) females are recognized by conspecific males and by an aggressive-mimic salticid, Portia fimbriata

Females of Euryattus sp. indet., a salticid from Queensland, suspend rolled-up leaves for nests. Euryattus males respond to conspecific females in nests with vibratory courtship. Portia fimbriata, a sympatric salticid that preys on Euryattus, responds to Euryattus females' nests by mimicking the courtship of Euryattus males. In the laboratory, cues by which potential mates (conspecific males) and potential predators (P. fimbriata females) recognize the nests of Euryattus females are investigated experimentally. Both the position of the leaf in relation to the substratum and the number of threads between the leaf and the substratum appear to be important cues by which both the Euryattus males and P. fimbriata females find nests. In addition, chemical cues from Euryattus females influence conspecific males, but there is no evidence that chemical cues are important to the predator.