Gregarious behavior of two species of Neotropical harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones: Gonyleptidae)

Author(s)

Chelini, Marie-Claire ^[1] ; Willemart, Rodrigo H. ^[2] ; Gnaspini, Pedro ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Ecol, Inst Biociencias, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Escola Artes Ciencias & Humanidades, BR-03828000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Zool, Inst Biociencias, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY; v. 40, n. 2, p. 256-258, 2012.
• Web of Science Citations: 8

Abstract

We present the first record and description of the gregarious behavior of the Neotropical harvestmen Serracutisoma proximum (Mello-Leitao 1922) and Serracutisoma spelaeum (Mello-Leitao 1933) (Opiliones: Gonyleptidae: Goniosomatinae) (DaSilva \& Gnaspini 2010). We followed and described the pattern of these aggregations over a period of 17 months in a cave in southeastern Brazil. Individuals of the two species aggregated with both conspecifics and heterospecifics during the non-reproductive season (i.e., from October to March, the cool and dry season). Aggregations contained up to 81 individuals, usually with a female-biased adult sex ratio. Multispecific aggregations were usually composed mainly of representatives of one of the two species, suggesting that although these species also aggregate with heterospecifics, there is a preference for aggregating with conspecifics. This study provides novel information on the social behavior of harvestmen, specifically regarding the composition of multispecific aggregations. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 00/04686-4 - Comparative biology of insects and arachnids, with emphasis on groups including cave specimens
• Grantee: Pedro Gnaspini Netto
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants