Plasticity of agonistic behaviour in relation to diet and contact signals in experimentally group-living of Tegenaria atrica

The aim of this work was to investigate whether or not the predominant aggressive behaviour in spiders is stereotypic and whether there is a relation with cuticular chemicals. We compared the intraspecific behaviour of adult females of Tegenaria atrica reared in isolation and grouped, Some plasticity emerges from environmental conditions and allows spiders to tolerate each other. This switch of behaviour, in favour of acceptance behaviour vs. attack, is promoted by an increase in food resources. Learning during ontogenesis and changes in cuticular lipids could prolong it. A pattern of 6 compounds distinguishes grouped from solitary spiders. We hypothesize that a similar evolution could in part explain the emergence of certain communal species of spiders.