Abstract. Courtship and mating behavior in the vinegaroon, Mastigoproctus tohono Barrales-Alcalá, 2018, is an elaborate, multistep, and long-lasting procedure. It consists of four major stages: Chase and Grapple, Dancing, Generating, and Pressing, with subtle behaviors occurring within the stages. Courtship occurs during nighttime and requires on average nearly 13 hours for completion. Especially in the beginning of the courtship, females will often resist the advances of the male and even during later stages can escape and terminate the courtship. On average, wild caught female vinegaroons produce 52 young whose combined initial weight can exceed that of the female. These 1st instar free-living young share the burrow with their mother during the early activity period of the summer. The female exhibits maternal care including feeding prey that she catches to her new young. Vinegaroons have four immature free-living instars before molting to the adult. Each instar requires at least one year, and sometimes more than one year, before molting to the next instar. Adults can live up to four years during which time they never molt. Females can produce a litter of young during each of their second and third summer seasons. The usual lifespan of a vinegaroon from egg to death ranges from 7 to 9 years.
{"title":"Reproduction and life history of the vinegaroon Mastigoproctus tohono","authors":"J. Schmidt, L. Schmidt, J. Cowles","doi":"10.1636/JoA-S-20-092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1636/JoA-S-20-092","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Courtship and mating behavior in the vinegaroon, Mastigoproctus tohono Barrales-Alcalá, 2018, is an elaborate, multistep, and long-lasting procedure. It consists of four major stages: Chase and Grapple, Dancing, Generating, and Pressing, with subtle behaviors occurring within the stages. Courtship occurs during nighttime and requires on average nearly 13 hours for completion. Especially in the beginning of the courtship, females will often resist the advances of the male and even during later stages can escape and terminate the courtship. On average, wild caught female vinegaroons produce 52 young whose combined initial weight can exceed that of the female. These 1st instar free-living young share the burrow with their mother during the early activity period of the summer. The female exhibits maternal care including feeding prey that she catches to her new young. Vinegaroons have four immature free-living instars before molting to the adult. Each instar requires at least one year, and sometimes more than one year, before molting to the next instar. Adults can live up to four years during which time they never molt. Females can produce a litter of young during each of their second and third summer seasons. The usual lifespan of a vinegaroon from egg to death ranges from 7 to 9 years.","PeriodicalId":51076,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arachnology","volume":"49 1","pages":"371 - 379"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42090314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract. Spiders in the genus Argiope Audouin, 1826 often include silken structures in their webs called decorations. Here, I report on the form and frequency of the vertical or linear decorations built by A. protensa L. Koch, 1872 as based on a survey of online digital imagery. Of 124 webs in 262 images clearly showing the web, 38.7% were decorated, less than for other congeners also sampled across their geographic range. The spider lays silk strips centered above and/or below the web's hub; however, one web appeared to have four strips arranged in a cruciate pattern. Unlike other Argiope whose decorations consist of zigzagging bands, A. protensa weaves a derived cottony decoration of jagged strips reminiscent of those in Uloboridae. Large and geographically broad surveys of spider behavior and web structure are possible using online databases of natural-history observations.
{"title":"Pattern and frequency of web decorating by Argiope protensa L. Koch, 1872 (Araneae: Araneidae)","authors":"A. Kerr","doi":"10.1636/JoA-S-20-059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1636/JoA-S-20-059","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Spiders in the genus Argiope Audouin, 1826 often include silken structures in their webs called decorations. Here, I report on the form and frequency of the vertical or linear decorations built by A. protensa L. Koch, 1872 as based on a survey of online digital imagery. Of 124 webs in 262 images clearly showing the web, 38.7% were decorated, less than for other congeners also sampled across their geographic range. The spider lays silk strips centered above and/or below the web's hub; however, one web appeared to have four strips arranged in a cruciate pattern. Unlike other Argiope whose decorations consist of zigzagging bands, A. protensa weaves a derived cottony decoration of jagged strips reminiscent of those in Uloboridae. Large and geographically broad surveys of spider behavior and web structure are possible using online databases of natural-history observations.","PeriodicalId":51076,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arachnology","volume":"49 1","pages":"389 - 392"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46880296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract. The scattered literature on schizomid brooding is reviewed and discussed in reference to the number of eggs, number and position of young as well as the brood chamber. In addition, novel brooding observations are provided for the Neotropical species Hansenochrus tobago (Rowland & Reddell, 1979), Dumitrescoella decui (Dumitresco, 1977), Piaroa sp. and Surazomus sp.
{"title":"Notes on brooding in the arachnid order Schizomida","authors":"Gonzalo Giribet, Jairo A. Moreno-González","doi":"10.1636/JoA-S-20-091","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1636/JoA-S-20-091","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. The scattered literature on schizomid brooding is reviewed and discussed in reference to the number of eggs, number and position of young as well as the brood chamber. In addition, novel brooding observations are provided for the Neotropical species Hansenochrus tobago (Rowland & Reddell, 1979), Dumitrescoella decui (Dumitresco, 1977), Piaroa sp. and Surazomus sp.","PeriodicalId":51076,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arachnology","volume":"49 1","pages":"410 - 414"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45903463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract. A key challenge for generalist predators is avoiding toxins in prey. Species-specific strategies range from total avoidance of distasteful (and potentially toxic) prey to the use of physiological mechanisms to metabolize toxins after consumption. We compare two species of jumping spiders, Habronattus trimaculatus Bryant, 1945 and Phidippus regius CL Koch, 1846. Based on several anecdotal observations and other aspects of their biology, we hypothesized a priori that H. trimaculatus would be (1) less willing to feed on unpalatable prey and (2) more susceptible to toxins that are consumed compared with P. regius. In Experiment 1, we presented spiders of both species with size-matched quinine-dipped crickets. Consistent with our hypothesis, all H. trimaculatus attacked and rejected them while all P. regius attacked and consumed them. In Experiments 2 and 3, we assigned spiders of both species to experimental feeding treatments with varying levels of toxicity (using toxic springtails, Folsomia candida) and assessed effects on their growth. Spiders of both species readily fed on the springtails. Collectively, results from these two experiments suggest that springtails have negative effects on both species, but that these effects are stronger in H. trimaculatus. Habronattus FO Pickard-Cambridge, 1901 has a unique red retinal filter pigment (not found in Phidippus CL Koch, 1846) that likely improves their ability to discriminate reds and oranges. The evolution of this unique visual system may have been driven by their heightened susceptibility to prey toxins, and thus the benefits of avoiding prey that advertise toxins with long-wavelength colors.
{"title":"Alternative responses by two species of jumping spiders to unpalatability and toxicity in prey","authors":"Michael E Vickers, Madison L. Heisey, L. Taylor","doi":"10.1636/JoA-S-20-066","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1636/JoA-S-20-066","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. A key challenge for generalist predators is avoiding toxins in prey. Species-specific strategies range from total avoidance of distasteful (and potentially toxic) prey to the use of physiological mechanisms to metabolize toxins after consumption. We compare two species of jumping spiders, Habronattus trimaculatus Bryant, 1945 and Phidippus regius CL Koch, 1846. Based on several anecdotal observations and other aspects of their biology, we hypothesized a priori that H. trimaculatus would be (1) less willing to feed on unpalatable prey and (2) more susceptible to toxins that are consumed compared with P. regius. In Experiment 1, we presented spiders of both species with size-matched quinine-dipped crickets. Consistent with our hypothesis, all H. trimaculatus attacked and rejected them while all P. regius attacked and consumed them. In Experiments 2 and 3, we assigned spiders of both species to experimental feeding treatments with varying levels of toxicity (using toxic springtails, Folsomia candida) and assessed effects on their growth. Spiders of both species readily fed on the springtails. Collectively, results from these two experiments suggest that springtails have negative effects on both species, but that these effects are stronger in H. trimaculatus. Habronattus FO Pickard-Cambridge, 1901 has a unique red retinal filter pigment (not found in Phidippus CL Koch, 1846) that likely improves their ability to discriminate reds and oranges. The evolution of this unique visual system may have been driven by their heightened susceptibility to prey toxins, and thus the benefits of avoiding prey that advertise toxins with long-wavelength colors.","PeriodicalId":51076,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arachnology","volume":"49 1","pages":"324 - 331"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44089525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In this paper, 319 incidents of snake predation by spiders are reported based on a comprehensive global literature and social media survey. Snake-catching spiders have been documented from all continents except Antarctica. Snake predation by spiders has been most frequently documented in USA (51% of all incidents) and Australia (29%). The captured snakes are predominantly small-sized with an average body length of 25.9 6 1.3 cm (median1⁄4 27 cm; range: 5.8–100 cm). Altogether .90 snake species from seven families have been documented to be captured by.40 spider species from 11 families. About 60% of the reported incidents were attributable to theridiids (’0.6–1.1 cm body length), a spider family that uses strong tangle webs for prey capture. Especially the Australian redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti Thorell, 1870), the African button spider (Latrodectus indistinctusO. Pickard-Cambridge, 1904), an Israeli widow spider (Latrodectus revivensis Shulov, 1948), and four species ofNorth American widow spiders (Latrodectus geometricus C.L. Koch, 1841, Latrodectus hesperus Chamberlin & Ivie, 1935, Latrodectus mactans (Fabricius, 1775), andLatrodectus variolusWalckenaer, 1837) – equipped with a very potent vertebrate-specific toxin (alatrotoxin) – have proven to be expert snake catchers. The use of vertebrates as a supplementary food source by spiders represents an opportunity to enlarge their food base, resulting in enhanced survival capability. Interestingly, the snakes captured by spiders also encompasses some species from the families Elapidae and Viperidae known to be highly toxic to humans and other vertebrates. Not only do spiders sometimes capture and kill snakes, quite often the tables are turned – that is, a larger number of arthropod-eating snake species (in particular nonvenomous species in the family Colubridae) include spiders in their diets.
{"title":"Erratum","authors":"M. Nyffeler, J. Gibbons","doi":"10.1636/JoA-S-21-300","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1636/JoA-S-21-300","url":null,"abstract":"In this paper, 319 incidents of snake predation by spiders are reported based on a comprehensive global literature and social media survey. Snake-catching spiders have been documented from all continents except Antarctica. Snake predation by spiders has been most frequently documented in USA (51% of all incidents) and Australia (29%). The captured snakes are predominantly small-sized with an average body length of 25.9 6 1.3 cm (median1⁄4 27 cm; range: 5.8–100 cm). Altogether .90 snake species from seven families have been documented to be captured by.40 spider species from 11 families. About 60% of the reported incidents were attributable to theridiids (’0.6–1.1 cm body length), a spider family that uses strong tangle webs for prey capture. Especially the Australian redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti Thorell, 1870), the African button spider (Latrodectus indistinctusO. Pickard-Cambridge, 1904), an Israeli widow spider (Latrodectus revivensis Shulov, 1948), and four species ofNorth American widow spiders (Latrodectus geometricus C.L. Koch, 1841, Latrodectus hesperus Chamberlin & Ivie, 1935, Latrodectus mactans (Fabricius, 1775), andLatrodectus variolusWalckenaer, 1837) – equipped with a very potent vertebrate-specific toxin (alatrotoxin) – have proven to be expert snake catchers. The use of vertebrates as a supplementary food source by spiders represents an opportunity to enlarge their food base, resulting in enhanced survival capability. Interestingly, the snakes captured by spiders also encompasses some species from the families Elapidae and Viperidae known to be highly toxic to humans and other vertebrates. Not only do spiders sometimes capture and kill snakes, quite often the tables are turned – that is, a larger number of arthropod-eating snake species (in particular nonvenomous species in the family Colubridae) include spiders in their diets.","PeriodicalId":51076,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arachnology","volume":"49 1","pages":"415 - 415"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47476843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract. In this paper, vertebrate predation by jumping spiders (Salticidae) was revisited, taking into account incidents of this kind recently published in the scientific literature or on the internet. Our study revealed that vertebrate predation by salticids is more widespread than previously thought, geographically and taxonomically. Roughly ninety percent of all reported cases refer to predation on anurans (Hylidae and Ranixalidae) and lizards (Dactyloidae and Gekkonidae) by salticids from the subfamily Salticinae (Hyllus spp., Phidippus spp., and an unidentified species presumably related to Hasarius Simon, 1871). In the remaining cases, salticids from the subfamily Salticinae (Paraphidippus cf. aurantius (Lucas, 1833) and Phidippus audax (Hentz, 1845)) were observed attacking bird hatchlings (families Paridae and Trochilidae), weighing ≈4–6 times more than the spiders. In two instances, the spiders were observed biting the hatchlings, but only in one single case, a salticid was seen feeding on a hatchling.
{"title":"Vertebrate-eating jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) revisited: consumption of geckos and bird hatchlings","authors":"M. Nyffeler, G. B. Edwards, Raymond Arkin","doi":"10.1636/JoA-S-20-090","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1636/JoA-S-20-090","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. In this paper, vertebrate predation by jumping spiders (Salticidae) was revisited, taking into account incidents of this kind recently published in the scientific literature or on the internet. Our study revealed that vertebrate predation by salticids is more widespread than previously thought, geographically and taxonomically. Roughly ninety percent of all reported cases refer to predation on anurans (Hylidae and Ranixalidae) and lizards (Dactyloidae and Gekkonidae) by salticids from the subfamily Salticinae (Hyllus spp., Phidippus spp., and an unidentified species presumably related to Hasarius Simon, 1871). In the remaining cases, salticids from the subfamily Salticinae (Paraphidippus cf. aurantius (Lucas, 1833) and Phidippus audax (Hentz, 1845)) were observed attacking bird hatchlings (families Paridae and Trochilidae), weighing ≈4–6 times more than the spiders. In two instances, the spiders were observed biting the hatchlings, but only in one single case, a salticid was seen feeding on a hatchling.","PeriodicalId":51076,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arachnology","volume":"49 1","pages":"397 - 401"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42504724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract. In the context of competitive mate searching, males may use cues from conspecifics, such as movement cues and/or courtship signals, to locate mates. For ground-dwelling wolf spiders, substrate-borne vibratory cues may be particularly important sources of information, given the potential presence of many visual obstacles. This study explores the possible use of conspecific male cues in wolf spiders by asking: (i) Do male Schizocosa retrorsa (Banks, 1911) wolf spiders use vibratory cues from conspecific males to alter their searching or signaling behavior? (ii) Can males assess the density of conspecific males using conspecific male cues? (iii) Does the variation in conspecific male density affect the behavioral response of focal males to the conspecific cues? To answer these questions, we tested the effects of (i) the number of conspecific males and (ii) the activity of conspecific males (e.g., courtship yes/no) on a focal male's behavior. We recorded the following focal male behavior: (a) the presence/absence of courtship behavior, (b) temporal/structural signal characteristics of the multimodal courtship signaling, and (c) locomotory patterns. Our results suggest that, (i) S. retrorsa males assess their competitive environment through substrate-borne vibratory cues generated by courting or non-courting behavior of conspecific neighbors, (ii) S. retrorsa males may alter their reproductive behavior between mate searching and courtship signaling by the assessment of cues associated with conspecific male density, and (iii) the assessment and perception of density-dependent conspecific courtship signaling can be used as social information to adjust the reproductive behavior.
{"title":"The effects of conspecific male density on the reproductive behavior of male Schizocosa retrorsa (Banks, 1911) wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae)","authors":"Noori Choi, E. Hebets","doi":"10.1636/JoA-S-20-079","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1636/JoA-S-20-079","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. In the context of competitive mate searching, males may use cues from conspecifics, such as movement cues and/or courtship signals, to locate mates. For ground-dwelling wolf spiders, substrate-borne vibratory cues may be particularly important sources of information, given the potential presence of many visual obstacles. This study explores the possible use of conspecific male cues in wolf spiders by asking: (i) Do male Schizocosa retrorsa (Banks, 1911) wolf spiders use vibratory cues from conspecific males to alter their searching or signaling behavior? (ii) Can males assess the density of conspecific males using conspecific male cues? (iii) Does the variation in conspecific male density affect the behavioral response of focal males to the conspecific cues? To answer these questions, we tested the effects of (i) the number of conspecific males and (ii) the activity of conspecific males (e.g., courtship yes/no) on a focal male's behavior. We recorded the following focal male behavior: (a) the presence/absence of courtship behavior, (b) temporal/structural signal characteristics of the multimodal courtship signaling, and (c) locomotory patterns. Our results suggest that, (i) S. retrorsa males assess their competitive environment through substrate-borne vibratory cues generated by courting or non-courting behavior of conspecific neighbors, (ii) S. retrorsa males may alter their reproductive behavior between mate searching and courtship signaling by the assessment of cues associated with conspecific male density, and (iii) the assessment and perception of density-dependent conspecific courtship signaling can be used as social information to adjust the reproductive behavior.","PeriodicalId":51076,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arachnology","volume":"49 1","pages":"347 - 357"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41415213","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract. The exploration of new and diverse animal groups in the study of sexual selection is both necessary and important to help better understand broad patterns and test sexual selection hypotheses regarding the evolutionary origins and maintenance of reproductive tactics and associated traits. Solifuges are, in this matter, an exceptional group and very little explored from the sexual selection point of view. At first glance, mating is apparently quite simple and conserved within this arachnid order, but solifuge reproductive behavior is unique among arachnids and more diverse than previously thought. In particular, these voracious animals appear to exhibit high sexual conflict, as males need to avoid being eaten by their aggressive female partners and mating encounters in some species involve periods of apparently male-induced female inactivity during sperm transfer. The extent to which reproductive encounters are coercive versus collaborative, however, remains largely unknown. In this review, we begin with a historical perspective of sexual behavior research in solifuges. We then discuss precopulatory mating patterns, the role of the female and male during mating, sexual dimorphism, and the influence of sexual selection during different stages of mating. In addition, we explore cases of sexual cannibalism and provide an updated analysis of how postcopulatory sexual selection may be acting on these amazing arachnids. This review shows that there is much to be done in this extraordinary group of animals.
{"title":"Solifuge (camel spider) reproductive biology: an untapped taxon for exploring sexual selection","authors":"A. Peretti, D. E. Vrech, E. Hebets","doi":"10.1636/JoA-S-20-037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1636/JoA-S-20-037","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. The exploration of new and diverse animal groups in the study of sexual selection is both necessary and important to help better understand broad patterns and test sexual selection hypotheses regarding the evolutionary origins and maintenance of reproductive tactics and associated traits. Solifuges are, in this matter, an exceptional group and very little explored from the sexual selection point of view. At first glance, mating is apparently quite simple and conserved within this arachnid order, but solifuge reproductive behavior is unique among arachnids and more diverse than previously thought. In particular, these voracious animals appear to exhibit high sexual conflict, as males need to avoid being eaten by their aggressive female partners and mating encounters in some species involve periods of apparently male-induced female inactivity during sperm transfer. The extent to which reproductive encounters are coercive versus collaborative, however, remains largely unknown. In this review, we begin with a historical perspective of sexual behavior research in solifuges. We then discuss precopulatory mating patterns, the role of the female and male during mating, sexual dimorphism, and the influence of sexual selection during different stages of mating. In addition, we explore cases of sexual cannibalism and provide an updated analysis of how postcopulatory sexual selection may be acting on these amazing arachnids. This review shows that there is much to be done in this extraordinary group of animals.","PeriodicalId":51076,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arachnology","volume":"49 1","pages":"299 - 316"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48133853","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rafael Pereira da Ponte, V. Stefani, G. A. Villanueva-Bonilla, J. Vasconcellos‐Neto
Abstract. Spiders exhibit various egg sac construction behaviors using camouflage to protect the eggs from predators and parasitoids and also perform parental care to increase offspring survival. In this study, we describe the egg sac construction behavior of Deinopis cf. cylindracea, and the camouflage characteristics of egg sac when left without the female's active protection. Our observations showed that D. cf. cylindracea builds a fairly compact egg sac, with an outermost layer composed of dense silk. This outermost layer is dark brown, perhaps to camouflage with the substrate on which the egg sac is deposited. Moreover, females tend to hide their egg sacs with dry leaves in the litter. In addition, the overall color, shape, and size of the egg sac resemble the dry seeds of Plinia cauliflora, the plant on which D. cf. cylindracea was found. Two female spiders were positioned on their egg sacs; however, whether this behavior reflects maternal care remains unknown. Therefore, the overall egg sac construction behavior of D. cf. cylindracea may be related to a strategy for increasing fitness. This is the first behavioral record for a South American deinopid species.
{"title":"Egg sac construction and camouflage behaviors of Deinopis cf. cylindracea (Araneae: Deinopidae)","authors":"Rafael Pereira da Ponte, V. Stefani, G. A. Villanueva-Bonilla, J. Vasconcellos‐Neto","doi":"10.1636/JoA-S-20-077","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1636/JoA-S-20-077","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Spiders exhibit various egg sac construction behaviors using camouflage to protect the eggs from predators and parasitoids and also perform parental care to increase offspring survival. In this study, we describe the egg sac construction behavior of Deinopis cf. cylindracea, and the camouflage characteristics of egg sac when left without the female's active protection. Our observations showed that D. cf. cylindracea builds a fairly compact egg sac, with an outermost layer composed of dense silk. This outermost layer is dark brown, perhaps to camouflage with the substrate on which the egg sac is deposited. Moreover, females tend to hide their egg sacs with dry leaves in the litter. In addition, the overall color, shape, and size of the egg sac resemble the dry seeds of Plinia cauliflora, the plant on which D. cf. cylindracea was found. Two female spiders were positioned on their egg sacs; however, whether this behavior reflects maternal care remains unknown. Therefore, the overall egg sac construction behavior of D. cf. cylindracea may be related to a strategy for increasing fitness. This is the first behavioral record for a South American deinopid species.","PeriodicalId":51076,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arachnology","volume":"49 1","pages":"340 - 346"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47134399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract. The design of orb webs is affected by multiple abiotic (e.g., wind, available space), biotic (e.g., prey availability, predation), and species specific (e.g., spider size) factors. Thus, some features of each spider web are expected to reflect the combined effect of such factors. We compared the relationship of spider size and web inclination on the area of different sections of the orb web and other features (e.g., number or radii) between two sympatric Leucauge species (Leucauge sp., and L. argyra (Walckenaer, 1841), Tetragnathidae). Leucauge sp. was smaller and constructed smaller webs across a wider range of inclinations than L. argyra. Other features of the web, e.g., capture area, and hub area, but not the number of adhesive spiral turns and number of radii, were also larger in webs of L. argyra. The inclination was greater in webs of Leucauge sp., but the asymmetry of webs did not differ between species, though, it correlated negatively with the total area of the web of both species, as in other orb-weavers. The characteristics of each species' web suggest that L. argyra optimizes prey interception, while Leucauge sp. optimizes stopping and retention of large prey.
{"title":"Differences in web features between two sympatric Leucauge species (Araneae: Tetragnathidae) suggest a trade-off in prey capture strategy","authors":"Alejandra Vargas-Gamboa, G. Barrantes","doi":"10.1636/JoA-S-19-063","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1636/JoA-S-19-063","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. The design of orb webs is affected by multiple abiotic (e.g., wind, available space), biotic (e.g., prey availability, predation), and species specific (e.g., spider size) factors. Thus, some features of each spider web are expected to reflect the combined effect of such factors. We compared the relationship of spider size and web inclination on the area of different sections of the orb web and other features (e.g., number or radii) between two sympatric Leucauge species (Leucauge sp., and L. argyra (Walckenaer, 1841), Tetragnathidae). Leucauge sp. was smaller and constructed smaller webs across a wider range of inclinations than L. argyra. Other features of the web, e.g., capture area, and hub area, but not the number of adhesive spiral turns and number of radii, were also larger in webs of L. argyra. The inclination was greater in webs of Leucauge sp., but the asymmetry of webs did not differ between species, though, it correlated negatively with the total area of the web of both species, as in other orb-weavers. The characteristics of each species' web suggest that L. argyra optimizes prey interception, while Leucauge sp. optimizes stopping and retention of large prey.","PeriodicalId":51076,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arachnology","volume":"49 1","pages":"317 - 323"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45497711","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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