Trait-Specific Indirect Effects Underlie Variation in the Response of Spiders to Cannibalistic Social Partners.

AbstractIn cannibalistic species, selection to avoid conspecifics may stem from the need to avoid being eaten or to avoid competition. Individuals may thus use conspecific cues to modulate their behavior to such threats. Yet the nature of variation for such cues remains elusive.

The pest-specific effects of glyphosate on functional response of a wolf spider.

Although glyphosate is widely used for weed pest control, it might have negative side effects on natural enemies. Wolf spiders are one of the most representative predators found on soybean crops in Uruguay, preying on a wide variety of potential pests. However, the sublethal effects that pesticides might have on this group have been poorly explored for South American species.

Koinobint life style of the spider wasp Minagenia (Hymenoptera, Pompilidae) and its consequences for host selection and sex allocation.

Spider wasps of the genus Minagenia have evolved koinobiontism as a relatively rare life strategy within the widely diversified hymenopteran family Pompilidae. In this study, we evaluated several aspects of the parasitic strategy of the wasp Minagenia sp. (hereafter, Minagenia) - namely host specificity, ontogeny, and sex determination as a function of host size.

Author Correction: Silk physico-chemical variability and mechanical robustness facilitates intercontinental invasibility of a spider.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Silk physico-chemical variability and mechanical robustness facilitates intercontinental invasibility of a spider.

There are substantive problems associated with invasive species, including threats to endemic organisms and biodiversity. Understanding the mechanisms driving invasions is thus critical. Variable extended phenotypes may enable animals to invade into novel environments.

Local trophic specialisation in a cosmopolitan spider (Araneae).

Trophic specialisation can be observed in species with long-term constant exploitation of a certain prey in all populations or in a population of a species with short-term exploitation of a certain prey. While in the former case the species would evolve stereotyped or specialised trophic adaptations, the trophic traits of the latter should be versatile or generalised. Here, we studied the predatory behavioural adaptations of a presumed myrmecophagous spider, Oecobius navus.

[Sexual behavior of Alpaida veniliae (Araneae: Araueidae)].

Studies in transgenic soybean crops in Buenos Aires province, Argentina, revealed that Alpaida veniliae is one of the most abundant species in the guild of orb web spiders. This species is an effective natural enemy of insect pests affecting this crop. In the present study we carried out a descriptive and quantitative analysis of sexual behavior (courtship, mating and post-mating) of A.