ABSTRACT
Kleptoparasitic spiders live and forage in the webs of other spiders. Using vibratory cues generated by the host spider during prey capture, they leave their resting positions in the upper peripheries of the host web and move towards the centre of the web where they feed along with the host spider or steal small pieces of prey. While the triggers for initiating the foraging raids are known, there is little information about the fine-scale trajectory dynamics in this model system. We mapped the movement of the kleptoparasite Argyrodes elevatus in the web of the host Trichonephila clavipes. We filmed the movement of the kleptoparasite spiders and quantified the trajectory shape, speed, heading directions and path revisitation. Our results show that kleptoparasitic spider movement is spatially structured, with higher levels of speed at the peripheries and slower in the centre of the web. We found a high level of variation in trajectory shapes between individuals. We found that the majority of heading orientations were away from the hub suggesting that detouring or repeated approaches are an essential component of kleptoparasite movement strategies. Our results of the revisitation rate also confirm this pattern, where locations close to the hub were revisited more often than in the periphery. The kleptoparasite-host spider system is a promising model to study fine-scale movement patterns in small bounded spaces.
Subject(s)
Locomotion/physiology , Movement/physiology , Predatory Behavior/physiology , Spiders/physiology , Walking Speed/physiology , AnimalsABSTRACT
The spider family Mysmenidae includes two genera in which kleptoparasitic species are known to occur, Isela and Mysmenopsis. Mysmenopsis is the most speciose with 31 species described so far. Herein, we describe twenty-one new species from Ecuador: M. alvaroi n. sp., M. amazonica n. sp., M. angamarca n. sp., M. awa n. sp., M. baerti n. sp., M. bartolozzii n. sp., M. choco n. sp., M. cube n. sp., M. corazon n. sp., M. guanza n. sp., M. guayaca n. sp., M. hunachi n. sp., M. junin n. sp., M. lasrocas n. sp., M. lloa n. sp., M. otokiki n. sp., M. pululahua n. sp., M. salazarae n. sp., M. shushufindi n. sp., M. tepuy n. sp. and M. tungurahua n. sp. We report for the first time the presence of four species of Mysmenopsis in the web of a Lycosidae, namely M. salazarae n. sp., M. shushufindi n. sp., M. bartolozzii n. sp. and M. amazonica n. sp. All new species described here were collected in spider webs either from the family Dipluridae (Linothele) or Lycosidae (Aglaoctenus) and therefore are assumed to be kleptoparasitic. New locality records are presented for M. otonga, M. fernandoi, M. atahualpa and M. penai, the female of M. penai is described for the first time. Maps of all Ecuadorian species are presented, kleptoparasitism, morphological characters and distribution of Mysmenopsis species are discussed.
Subject(s)
Spiders , Animal Distribution , Animal Structures , Animals , Body Size , Ecuador , Female , Organ SizeABSTRACT
This study reports a symbiotic association between an unknown species of Loxosceles (Araneae: Sicariidae) and the adults of a new species of parasitengone mite that lives on their web in Brazilian caves. This mite is described as Callidosoma cassiculophylla sp. nov. (Parasitengona: Erythraeidae). The symbiotic association is clearly beneficial for the mite, which lives with the spider, and feeds on prey captured by their webs, without any aggressive behavior or expulsion of the mites by the spiders.
Subject(s)
Mites , Spiders , Aggression , Animals , Brazil , CavesABSTRACT
Kleptoparasitism is an interaction in which one individual steals captured or processed food from another; spiders of the subfamily Argyrodinae (Theridiidae) may present kleptoparasitic behavior. Aiming to increase the knowledge about this unique strategy, we describe activities accomplished by the kleptoparasitic spider Argyrodes elevatus (Theridiidae) in webs of captive host spiders. After a prey was captured by the host spider, a second prey was offered, so that the kleptoparasite could steal the first prey while the host spider was immobilizing the second one. Using this method, we were able to see a wide range of events, such as the theft of stored preys, the sharing of a prey with the host, the theft of the egg sacs, the predation of host spiders, and others. Finally, we discuss how kleptoparasitism could vary in function of host behavior and how the high behavioral variability of Argyrodes elevatus could be explained.(AU)
O Cleptoparasitismo é um tipo de interação na qual um indivíduo rouba ou furta alimento adquirido por outro; aranhas da subfamília Argyrodinae (Theridiidae) podem apresentar esta estratégia. A fim de ampliar o conhecimento acerca deste curioso comportamento, descrevemos aqui as atividades empenhadas pela aranha cleptoparasita Argyrodes elevatus (Theridiidae) em teias de aranhas hospedeiras, em laboratório. Após a captura de presa por parte da aranha hospedeira, uma segunda presa era oferecida, de maneira que o cleptoparasita pudesse furtar a primeira enquanto a hospedeira capturava a segunda. Através deste método, observamos uma grande variedade de eventos, tais quais: furto e compartilhamento de presas capturadas, furto de ooteca e predação da aranha hospedeira, entre outros. Por fim, discutimos a flexibilidade do cleptoparasitismo em função do comportamento da aranha hospedeira e como pode ser explicada a alta variabilidade comportamental de Argyrodes elevatus.(AU)
Subject(s)
Animals , Spiders , Feeding Behavior/psychology , Host-Parasite InteractionsABSTRACT
Kleptoparasitism is an interaction in which one individual steals captured or processed food from another; spiders of the subfamily Argyrodinae (Theridiidae) may present kleptoparasitic behavior. Aiming to increase the knowledge about this unique strategy, we describe activities accomplished by the kleptoparasitic spider Argyrodes elevatus (Theridiidae) in webs of captive host spiders. After a prey was captured by the host spider, a second prey was offered, so that the kleptoparasite could steal the first prey while the host spider was immobilizing the second one. Using this method, we were able to see a wide range of events, such as the theft of stored preys, the sharing of a prey with the host, the theft of the egg sacs, the predation of host spiders, and others. Finally, we discuss how kleptoparasitism could vary in function of host behavior and how the high behavioral variability of Argyrodes elevatus could be explained.
O Cleptoparasitismo é um tipo de interação na qual um indivíduo rouba ou furta alimento adquirido por outro; aranhas da subfamília Argyrodinae (Theridiidae) podem apresentar esta estratégia. A fim de ampliar o conhecimento acerca deste curioso comportamento, descrevemos aqui as atividades empenhadas pela aranha cleptoparasita Argyrodes elevatus (Theridiidae) em teias de aranhas hospedeiras, em laboratório. Após a captura de presa por parte da aranha hospedeira, uma segunda presa era oferecida, de maneira que o cleptoparasita pudesse furtar a primeira enquanto a hospedeira capturava a segunda. Através deste método, observamos uma grande variedade de eventos, tais quais: furto e compartilhamento de presas capturadas, furto de ooteca e predação da aranha hospedeira, entre outros. Por fim, discutimos a flexibilidade do cleptoparasitismo em função do comportamento da aranha hospedeira e como pode ser explicada a alta variabilidade comportamental de Argyrodes elevatus.