Abstracts » Zoology and wildlife conservation

Stabilimentum of the garden spider Argiope trifasciata: a possible prey attractant

Article Abstract:

A study on prey-attraction value of stabilimenta on the webs of garden spiders Argiope trifasciata shows that the interception rate for flying insects is higher for webs decorated with stabilimenta. This rate is unrelated to the web's location or characteristics. Stabilimenta's length is unrelated to its attraction value. Insect interception rate is the same for decorated and undecorated halves of the web, which shows that stabilimenta increases thisrate for the whole web. Unlike other flying insects, orthopterans' interception rate is the same for decorated and undecorated webs.

Insect baits and repellents, Insect repellents

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Silk stealing by Argyrodes lanyuensis (Araneae: Theridiidae): a unique form of kleptoparasitism

Article Abstract:

Silk stealing allows the kleptoparasitic spider Argyrodes lanyuensis to reduce the orbs of its giant wood spider host Nephila maculata considerably. There have been many cases wherein N. maculata webs lost more than half their orbs to these kleptoparasites. Impact of silk stealing was also greater on younger hosts, as the percentage web reduction was found to be negatively correlated with the body length of N. maculata. However, the foraging gain of N. maculata was apparently unaffected by the prey stealing of A. lanyuensis because the former took larger prey than the latter.

Parasitism, Competition (Biology)

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Web damage and feeding experience influence web site tenacity in the orb-web spider Argiope keyserlingi Karsch

Article Abstract:

A new study investigates the factors determining web site tenacity in the orb-web spider. It is shown that the frequency of web relocation is influenced by the rate of nonprey damage and feeding experience.

Location

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