Attack strategies of a spider kleptoparasite: Effects of prey availability and host colony size
Animal Behaviour
1991
Journal Article
41
639-647
Anelosimus eximius Theridiidae animal behavior Araneae Reserva Nacional Tambopata spiders experiments ecology animals invertebrates parasites parasitism Argyrodes ululans predation ecology experiments foraging Madre de Dios Bibliography
Argyrodes ululans, a kleptoparasitic spider that specializes in stealing prey from the social spider, Anelosimus eximius, faces a variety of foraging situations depending upon the number of host spiders involved in prey capture and defense and prey availability. The ability of Ar. ululans to modify its mode of attack may therefore be essential to ensure its success in obtaining food. Kleptoparasite hunger level, host colony size and prey size were manipulated and detailed observations of behavior were made to determine whether Ar. ululans modifies its stealing strategy in response to these changing conditions. Ar. ululans initiated an attack based on its hunger state and the size of the prey captured and altered the relative frequencies of its component stealing behavior patterns according to the number of host spiders that responded to prey capture. These adjustments in stealing tactics allow Ar. ululans to maximize its success in acquiring prey and to conserve energy used for foraging.