Aggressive chemical mimicry

Bolas spiders, Mastophora spp., capture prey by swinging a sticky ball on the end of a thread at passing insects. Once struck, the prey adheres to the ball whereupon the spider descends the connecting strand and feeds on the prey. The success of such a short-range means of attack, requires that a substantial number of prey passes within the range of the spider s attack. Eberhard (1977) 

There are further examples of similar chemical mimicry such as in termito-philes (Howard et al., 1980) and myrmecophilous beetles (Vander Meer and Wojcik, 1982), but at this point Mullerian chemical mimicry merges imperceptibly with a general study of interspecific pheromones and is out of place in this review. 

Before delving into the evolution of various kinds of mimicry, we should explore a facet of mimicry barely touched upon above sympatry, or the idea that all models, mimics, and predators must co-exist (at least figuratively within the memory span of the predator) if successful learning is to be feasible. Most often attention has been focused on geographic sympatry. This subject has been examined extensively by Sheppard (1959), Ford (1975), and Turner (1975) and will not be discussed here beyond calling attention to two vertebrate examples of accurate sympatry coral snakes (Greene and McDiarmid, 1981) and salamanders (Huheey and Brandon, 1974). 

It is easy to see that if a Batesian mimic adjusts its emergence (in whatever way) to encounter only predators previously educated by the model, its survival will be maximized, and selection will move in that direction. It is not so simple 

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Gemeno, C., Yeargan, . V. and Haynes, K. F. (2000). Aggressive chemical mimicry by the bolas spider Mastophora hutchinsoni identification and quantification of a major prey s sex pheromone components in the spider s volatile emissions. Journal of Chemical Ecology 26 1235-1243. 

Eberhard, W. G. (1977). Aggressive chemical mimicry by a bolas spider. Science 198 1173-1175. 

Yeargan, . V. (1988). Ecology of a bolas spider, Mastophora hutchinsoni phenology, hunting tactics, and evidence of aggressive chemical mimicry. Oecologia (Berlin) 74 524-530. 

Eberhard, W.G. Aggressive Chemical Mimicry by a Bolas Spider. Science 198, 1173-1175 (1977). 

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