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<p>Tropical islands host distinct lifeforms and ecological interactions as a result of their geographic isolation and limited terrestrial area. Ant–hemipteran trophobiosis in these tropical ecosystems create localised resource concentrations that attract a range of associated arthropods. However, the spatial associations and behavioural strategies of predators exploiting these systems remain poorly understood. Here, I examine the association between the Iridescent Sunda Jumper <i>Cosmophasis rakata </i><i>Żabka &amp; Waldock</i> (Araneae: Salticidae), the weaver ant <i>Oecophylla smaragdina </i><i>(Fabricius)</i> (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), and true bugs (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha and Auchenorrhyncha) in human-modified habitats on Havelock Island (Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India). This study combines spatial analyses with qualitative behavioural observation to examine their ecological relationship. Surveys showed that all three taxa co-occurred more frequently than expected by chance. Focal observations of <i>C. rakata</i> helped document 26 discrete behaviours, within behavioural categories such orientation, scanning, locomotion, signalling, maintenance, avoidance, and predation by <i>C. rakata</i> on both hemipterans and weaver ants within actively patrolled aggregations. These observations indicate that <i>C. rakata</i> regularly exploits trophobiotic aggregations and accesses weaver ant-defended resources through behavioural strategies. It also highlights the potential role of behavioural strategies in facilitating predator integration into resource rich social arthropod systems.</p>

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A life alongside weaver ants: triadic co-occurrence and behavioural ecology of the Iridescent Sunda Jumper amid weaver ant-hemipteran systems in human-modified tropical island habitats

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月13日

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  • S. J. John

摘要

Tropical islands host distinct lifeforms and ecological interactions as a result of their geographic isolation and limited terrestrial area. Ant–hemipteran trophobiosis in these tropical ecosystems create localised resource concentrations that attract a range of associated arthropods. However, the spatial associations and behavioural strategies of predators exploiting these systems remain poorly understood. Here, I examine the association between the Iridescent Sunda Jumper Cosmophasis rakata Żabka & Waldock (Araneae: Salticidae), the weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), and true bugs (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha and Auchenorrhyncha) in human-modified habitats on Havelock Island (Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India). This study combines spatial analyses with qualitative behavioural observation to examine their ecological relationship. Surveys showed that all three taxa co-occurred more frequently than expected by chance. Focal observations of C. rakata helped document 26 discrete behaviours, within behavioural categories such orientation, scanning, locomotion, signalling, maintenance, avoidance, and predation by C. rakata on both hemipterans and weaver ants within actively patrolled aggregations. These observations indicate that C. rakata regularly exploits trophobiotic aggregations and accesses weaver ant-defended resources through behavioural strategies. It also highlights the potential role of behavioural strategies in facilitating predator integration into resource rich social arthropod systems.