Jump to content

Argyrodes elevatus: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
'''''Argyrodes elevatus'''''<u>,</u> commonly referred to as '''Dew-drop Spider,''' is part of the [[Theridiidae]] family that consists of more than 3,000 species. These spiders are most commonly found in subtropical and tropical regions in South and Central America, as well as southern regions of the United States. One of the key distinguishing characteristics of ''A. elevatus'' is its kleptoparasitic behavior through which it primarily procures food for survival.
'''''Argyrodes elevatus''''', commonly referred to as '''Dew-drop Spider,''' is part of the [[Theridiidae]] family that consists of more than 3,000 species. These spiders are most commonly found in subtropical and tropical regions in South and [[Central America]], as well as southern regions of the United States. One of the key distinguishing characteristics of ''A. elevatus'' is its [[Kleptoparasitism|kleptoparasitic behavior]] through which it primarily procures food for survival. Up to 45, but usually 1 or 2 ''A. elevatus'' spiders preside in outer areas of webs built by other species of spiders. There are two main mechanisms by which ''A. elevatus'' raid the hub of the host’s web to steal insects preyed and wrapped by the host spider. ''A. elevatus'' follows an intricate course to the [[Spider web|hub]] of the web to search for prey, using vibrational detection enhanced by laid out threads along the web to find and capture the insect. These spiders are highly efficient, with the theft lasting a maximum of 12 seconds and high success rates. This reliance on a host spider for food has led to adaptations in sleep schedules and alternate food sources to revolve around the host species activity. ''A. elevatus'' display a unique [[Courtship display|courtship]] routine in which male ''A. elevatus'' presents prey wrapped in silk as a nuptial gift to the female spider. The male spider approaches the female, carrying the nuptial gift on its [[chelicerae]] while communicating with a distinct courting vibration, followed by copulation. Approximately twenty-four hours after the ''A. elevatus'' courtship and copulation series of events, the female spider will lay one to two eggs on the outer regions of the host's web.


{{Speciesbox
{{Speciesbox
Line 9: Line 9:


== Description ==
== Description ==
''Argyrodes elevatus'' spiders' small bodies can be divided into two regions, the cephalothorax, which consists of the head and legs, and the abdomen. The head is usually a dark color, ranging from brown to black. The legs extending from this division are a lighter brown, with the ends of the legs returning to the darker color similar to the head. The second division, or the abdomen, has a silver, bulb-like, conical appearance with a dark line extending down the length of the spider. With the two divisions combined, the spider is approximately 4-7 mm in length.
''Argyrodes elevatus'' spiders' small bodies can be divided into two regions, the [[cephalothorax]], which consists of the head and legs, and the abdomen. The head is usually a dark color, ranging from brown to black.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Oxley|first=Kristen|date=2016|title=Argyrodes elevatus (Dew-drop Spider)|url=https://sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/sites/default/files/lifesciences/images/Argyrodes%20elevatus%20-%20Dew-drop%20Spider.pdf|journal=The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago|volume=|pages=|via=}}</ref> The legs extending from this division are a lighter brown, with the ends of the legs returning to the darker color similar to the head. The second division, or the abdomen, has a silver, bulb-like, conical appearance with a dark line extending down the length of the spider. With the two divisions combined, the spider is approximately 4-7 mm in length.<ref name=":2" />


Females and males differ in shape. Males are smaller and have the abdominal division slightly lower than females, which are larger and have the abdomen pointing upwards.
Females and males differ in shape. Males are smaller and have the abdominal division slightly lower than females, which are larger and have the abdomen pointing upwards.<ref name=":0" />


== Habitat and Distribution ==
== Habitat and Distribution ==
''Argyrodes elevatus'' are primarily found in Central America, South America, and the southern-most areas of the United States. Within the United States, ''Argyrodes elevatus'' spiders can be found spanning regions including California, Texas, Florida, and Virginia. Because of its preference for tropical and subtropical climates, large populations have been identified in Trinidad.
''Argyrodes elevatus'' are primarily found in Central America, South America, and the southern-most areas of the United States. Within the United States, ''Argyrodes elevatus'' spiders can be found spanning regions including California, Texas, Florida, and Virginia. Because of its preference for tropical and [[Subtropics|subtropical climates]], large populations have been identified in Trinidad.<ref name=":1" />


== Diet ==
== Diet ==


=== Prey-capture ===
=== Prey-capture ===
The bulk of the diet obtained by adult ''A. elevatus'' comes from stealing food from the host spider, such as host egg sacs or insects and other organisms trapped in the web silk threads. Small prey that have not yet been detected by the host spider can be easily stolen from the webs, while prey that have already been attacked and stored for later use may be more difficult to obtain. Larger prey ranging up to sizes ten times larger than it are have usually been previously predigested by the host spider prior to stealing<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Vollrath|first=Fritz|date=1979-05-01|title=Behaviour of the kleptoparasitic spider Argyrodes elevatus (Araneae, theridiidae)|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0003347279901866|journal=Animal Behaviour|language=en|volume=27|pages=515–521|doi=10.1016/0003-3472(79)90186-6|issn=0003-3472}}</ref>. This behavior is attributed to age-related decreased ability to trap prey in silk thread due to either lack of sticky silk production or slower rate of wrapping.
The bulk of the diet obtained by adult ''A. elevatus'' comes from stealing food from the host spider, such as host egg sacs or insects and other organisms trapped in the web silk threads.<ref name=":1" /> Small prey that have not yet been detected by the host spider can be easily stolen from the webs, while prey that have already been attacked and stored for later use may be more difficult to obtain. Larger prey ranging up to sizes ten times larger than it are have usually been previously predigested by the host spider prior to stealing<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Vollrath|first=Fritz|date=1979-05-01|title=Behaviour of the kleptoparasitic spider Argyrodes elevatus (Araneae, theridiidae)|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0003347279901866|journal=Animal Behaviour|language=en|volume=27|pages=515–521|doi=10.1016/0003-3472(79)90186-6|issn=0003-3472}}</ref>. This behavior is attributed to age-related decreased ability to trap prey in silk thread due to either lack of sticky silk production or slower rate of wrapping.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Trail|first=Deborah Smith|date=1980|title=Predation by Argyrodes (Theridiidae) on Solitary and Communal Spiders|url=http://psyche.entclub.org/87/87-349.html|journal=Psyche|volume=87|issue=3-4|pages=349–355}}</ref>


=== Other Sources of Diet ===
=== Host Predation ===
Sometimes, ''A. elevatus'' does not steal an entire prey-packet from the hub of the host's web, and instead share it with the host at the hub. Furthermore, some ''A. elevatus'' spiders, particularly juvenile ''A. elevatus,'' feed on the host spider. This behavior is based on the differences in size and number of other caught prey available on the web. More specifically, predation is most common when there are fewer prey present in the host’s web and when the two spiders are similar in size.<ref name=":0" /> During shortages of regional prey-density, the host will protect its prey-packets from kleptoparasitic spiders even more, limiting the theft success rates and thus diminishing access to food for ''A. elevatus''. Silk from the host's web can also provide a more stable food source, especially during these periods of low success in prey-capture. Even when ''A. elevatus'' is successful in capturing the host's insects, web material may also serve as an additional source of nutrition. <ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Higgins|first=Linden E.|last2=Buskirk|first2=Ruth E.|date=1998-01-01|title=Spider-web kleptoparasites as a model for studying producer-consumer interactions|url=https://academic.oup.com/beheco/article/9/4/384/273232|journal=Behavioral Ecology|language=en|volume=9|issue=4|pages=384–387|doi=10.1093/beheco/9.4.384|issn=1045-2249}}</ref>
Sometimes, ''A. elevatus'' does not steal an entire [[Predation|prey-packet]] from the hub of the host's web, and instead share it with the host at the hub.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last=Preston-Mafham|first=Rod|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sDpagGxJw3AC&pg=PA243&lpg=PA243&dq=argyrodes+elevatus&source=bl&ots=Snd-yTYh37&sig=ACfU3U0CXYocLFtj6iSACNAmX-LNk5HapQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj4jOaI3MPsAhVDBc0KHbq4CRs4ChDoATAPegQIBhAC#v=onepage&q=argyrodes%20elevatus&f=false|title=The Encyclopedia of Land Invertebrate Behaviour|last2=Preston-Mafham|first2=Ken|date=1993|publisher=MIT Press|isbn=978-0-262-16137-4|language=en}}</ref> Furthermore, some ''A. elevatus'' spiders, particularly juvenile ''A. elevatus,'' feed on the host spider.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Notes on the behavior of the kleptoparasitic spider Argyrodes Elevatus (Yheridiidae, Araneae) {{!}} Request PDF|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317461151_Notes_on_the_behavior_of_the_kleptoparasitic_spider_Argyrodes_Elevatus_Yheridiidae_Araneae|access-date=2020-10-21|website=ResearchGate|language=en}}</ref> This behavior is based on the differences in size and number of other caught prey available on the web. More specifically, [[predation]] is most common when there are fewer prey present in the host’s web and when the two spiders are similar in size.<ref name=":0" />

=== Web Material ===
During shortages of regional prey-density, the host will protect its prey-packets from [[Kleptoparasitism|kleptoparasitic spiders]] even more, limiting the theft success rates and thus diminishing access to food for ''A. elevatus''. [[Spider silk|Silk]] from the host's web can also provide a more stable food source, especially during these periods of low success in prey-capture. Even when ''A. elevatus'' is successful in capturing the host's insects, [[Spider web|web material]] may also serve as an additional source of nutrition. <ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Higgins|first=Linden E.|last2=Buskirk|first2=Ruth E.|date=1998-01-01|title=Spider-web kleptoparasites as a model for studying producer-consumer interactions|url=https://academic.oup.com/beheco/article/9/4/384/273232|journal=Behavioral Ecology|language=en|volume=9|issue=4|pages=384–387|doi=10.1093/beheco/9.4.384|issn=1045-2249}}</ref>

== Reproduction ==
Approximately twenty-four hours after the ''A. elevatus'' courtship and copulation series of events, the female spider will lay one to two eggs on the outer regions of the host's web. The eggs are embedded on thread structures in these regions, and then left without any parental protection immediately. <ref name=":2" />

== Mating ==

=== Male-Female Interactions ===

==== Nuptial Gifts ====
During courtship, male ''A. elevatus'' presents a [[nuptial gift]], often prey wrapped in silk, to the female.<ref name=":2" /> One example of prey offered as the nuptial gift is ''C. huila.'' <ref name=":5">{{Cite journal|last=Cobbold|first=Stephanie M.|last2=Su|first2=Yong-Chao|date=2010|title=The host becomes dinner: possible use of Cyclosa as a nuptial gift by Argyrodes in a colonial web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25654017|journal=The Journal of Arachnology|volume=38|issue=1|pages=132–134|issn=0161-8202}}</ref> The male spider approaches the female, carrying the nuptial gift on its [[chelicerae]] while communicating with a distinct courting vibration. This sequence is different from other spider species that engage in this behavior. <ref name=":5" /> This sequence of courtship events, followed by copulation between the two spiders, may last between two to eight hours. This is the longest duration activity within the species, as other interactions range mainly between three seconds to six minutes. <ref name=":5" />

===== Pheromones =====
Recent studies have found novel [[Fatty acid ester|long-chain fatty acid esters]], containing unique functional groups, that may point towards their role in chemical communication between ''A. elevatus'' spiders. <ref>{{Cite journal|last=Chinta|first=Satya Prabhakar|last2=Goller|first2=Stephan|last3=Uhl|first3=Gabriele|last4=Schulz|first4=Stefan|date=2016-09|title=Identification and Synthesis of Branched Wax-type Esters, Novel Surface Lipids from the Spider Argyrodes elevatus (Araneae: Theridiidae)|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27447988/|journal=Chemistry & Biodiversity|volume=13|issue=9|pages=1202–1220|doi=10.1002/cbdv.201600020|issn=1612-1880|pmid=27447988}}</ref> However, more investigation is required to further examine this finding and its relevance in the [[mating behavior]] of ''A. elevatus.''


== Behavior ==
== Behavior ==


=== Kleptoparasitism ===
=== Kleptoparasitism ===
''Argyrodes elevatus'' presides in the outer area of webs built by the ''Argiope argentata'' and ''Nephila clavipes'' spiders, which are two types of araneid spiders. Up to 45 ''A. elevatus'' spiders may be present on a single web depending on the season and host-spider density in the region. There are two main mechanisms by which ''A. elevatus'' steals both small and large prey from the host spiders that differ in the timing of the raid.<ref name=":0" /> In one strategy, ''A. elevatus'' moves towards the center of the web, or the hub, once the host spider has wrapped an insect to immobilize it and leaves to capture another insect. The second strategy follows similar steps, but ''A. elevatus'' instead waits for multiple insects to be wrapped into a prey-packet prior to rushing towards the hub to steal the host's captured prey. Studies have shown that the first strategy is more commonly employed by the kleptoparasitic spiders due to higher success rates.
''Argyrodes elevatus'' presides in the outer area of webs built by the ''[[Argiope argentata]]'' and ''[[Trichonephila clavipes|Nephila clavipes]]'' spiders, which are two types of araneid spiders. Up to 45 ''A. elevatus'' spiders may be present on a single web depending on the season and host-spider density in the region. <ref name=":4" /> There are two main mechanisms by which ''A. elevatus'' steals both small and large prey from the host spiders that differ in the timing of the raid.<ref name=":0" /> In one strategy, ''A. elevatus'' moves towards the center of the web, or the hub, once the host spider has wrapped an insect to immobilize it and leaves to capture another insect. The second strategy follows similar steps, but ''A. elevatus'' instead waits for multiple insects to be wrapped into a prey-packet prior to rushing towards the hub to steal the host's captured prey. Studies have shown that the first strategy is more commonly employed by the kleptoparasitic spiders due to higher success rates.<ref name=":0" />


==== Mechanism of Prey-capture ====
==== Mechanism of Prey-capture ====
''A. elevatus'' spiders sense vibrations along the threads of the web to detect silk wrapping of prey by the host spider. In order to best detect these vibrations, ''A. elevatus'' produces fine threads that are spread out along the web, including the hub where the prey most-likely reside. These signals are detected by moving its long front legs in a forward and then sideways direction to tap the threads as it slowly moves. Once the vibrational cues signal the presence of captured prey, the spider is then triggered to move towards the prey to procure for its own food supply. Studies have suggested that chemotaxis may also play a role in locating the captured prey. Once the prey is identified with the front legs of ''A. elevatus'', various threads are drawn. One thread secures the wrapped prey-packet or single insect to be placed into its [[chelicerae]], while the other threads are placed to direct the spider back to the outer safe regions of the web. These escape threads can be followed after ''A. elevatus'' cuts up to 4 cm sections of the host's web threads to detach the prey and retreat.<ref name=":1" /> The entire raid, from finding the prey to securing the theft for return to the outskirts, has been seen to be completed in less than twelve seconds on certain occasions.
''A. elevatus'' spiders sense vibrations along the threads of the web to detect silk wrapping of prey by the host spider. In order to best detect these vibrations, ''A. elevatus'' produces fine threads that are spread out along the web's radii, including the hub where the prey most-likely reside. These signals are detected by moving its long front legs in a forward and then sideways direction to tap the threads as it slowly moves.<ref name=":3" /> The slow movements are aimed to reduce the chances of alerting the host spider of its approach. <ref name=":3" /> Once the vibrational cues signal the presence of captured prey, the spider is then triggered to move towards the prey to procure for its own food supply. Studies have suggested that chemotaxis may also play a role in locating the captured prey. Once the prey is identified with the front legs of ''A. elevatus'', various threads are drawn. One thread secures the wrapped prey-packet or single insect to be placed into its [[chelicerae]], while the other threads are placed to direct the spider back to the outer safe regions of the web. These escape threads can be followed after ''A. elevatus'' cuts up to 4 cm sections of the host's web threads to detach the prey and retreat.<ref name=":1" /> The entire raid, from finding the prey to securing the theft for return to the outskirts, has been seen to be completed in less than twelve seconds on certain occasions.


==== Success of Prey-capture ====
==== Success of Prey-capture ====
If host spiders sense the loss of their stored prey, they may attempt to search the hub for the intruding kleptoparasite and disrupt the theft by aggressively shaking the threads, causing ''A. elevatus'' to be shaken off the thread or to retreat. However, it is more common for the host to retrieve the captured prey by intercepting the theft. Studies have shown that ''A. elevatus'' are highly successful at capturing prey without being intercepted by the host. One experiment showed an approximate success rate of 67%<ref name=":0" />.
If host spiders sense the loss of their stored prey, they may attempt to search the hub for the intruding [[kleptoparasite]] and disrupt the theft by aggressively shaking the threads, causing ''A. elevatus'' to be shaken off the thread or to retreat. <ref name=":4" />However, it is more common for the host to retrieve the captured prey by intercepting the theft. Studies have shown that ''A. elevatus'' are highly successful at capturing prey without being intercepted by the host. One experiment showed an approximate success rate of 67%<ref name=":0" />.


=== Sleeping Patterns ===
=== Sleeping Patterns ===
Because of its kleptoparasitic behavior, ''A. elevatus'' has opposite patterns of sleep-wake cycles and activity than its host. These host spiders are often diurnal, making ''A. elevatus'' most commonly nocturnal. However, this can change if there are multiple species of spiders with different periods of activity. Monitoring host activity is achieved by sensing vibrations within the web signaling host movement.
Because of its [[Kleptoparasitism|kleptoparasitic]] behavior, ''A. elevatus'' has opposite patterns of [[sleep-wake cycles]] and activity than its host.<ref name=":2" /> These host spiders are often [[Diurnality|diurnal]], making ''A. elevatus'' most commonly nocturnal. However, this can change if there are multiple species of spiders with different periods of activity. Monitoring host activity is achieved by sensing vibrations within the web signaling host movement.<ref name=":2" />


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 03:38, 21 October 2020

Argyrodes elevatus, commonly referred to as Dew-drop Spider, is part of the Theridiidae family that consists of more than 3,000 species. These spiders are most commonly found in subtropical and tropical regions in South and Central America, as well as southern regions of the United States. One of the key distinguishing characteristics of A. elevatus is its kleptoparasitic behavior through which it primarily procures food for survival. Up to 45, but usually 1 or 2 A. elevatus spiders preside in outer areas of webs built by other species of spiders. There are two main mechanisms by which A. elevatus raid the hub of the host’s web to steal insects preyed and wrapped by the host spider. A. elevatus follows an intricate course to the hub of the web to search for prey, using vibrational detection enhanced by laid out threads along the web to find and capture the insect. These spiders are highly efficient, with the theft lasting a maximum of 12 seconds and high success rates. This reliance on a host spider for food has led to adaptations in sleep schedules and alternate food sources to revolve around the host species activity. A. elevatus display a unique courtship routine in which male A. elevatus presents prey wrapped in silk as a nuptial gift to the female spider. The male spider approaches the female, carrying the nuptial gift on its chelicerae while communicating with a distinct courting vibration, followed by copulation. Approximately twenty-four hours after the A. elevatus courtship and copulation series of events, the female spider will lay one to two eggs on the outer regions of the host's web.

Argyrodes elevatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Theridiidae
Genus: Argyrodes
Species:
A. elevatus
Binomial name
Argyrodes elevatus
Taczanowski, 1873

Description

Argyrodes elevatus spiders' small bodies can be divided into two regions, the cephalothorax, which consists of the head and legs, and the abdomen. The head is usually a dark color, ranging from brown to black.[1] The legs extending from this division are a lighter brown, with the ends of the legs returning to the darker color similar to the head. The second division, or the abdomen, has a silver, bulb-like, conical appearance with a dark line extending down the length of the spider. With the two divisions combined, the spider is approximately 4-7 mm in length.[1]

Females and males differ in shape. Males are smaller and have the abdominal division slightly lower than females, which are larger and have the abdomen pointing upwards.[2]

Habitat and Distribution

Argyrodes elevatus are primarily found in Central America, South America, and the southern-most areas of the United States. Within the United States, Argyrodes elevatus spiders can be found spanning regions including California, Texas, Florida, and Virginia. Because of its preference for tropical and subtropical climates, large populations have been identified in Trinidad.[3]

Diet

Prey-capture

The bulk of the diet obtained by adult A. elevatus comes from stealing food from the host spider, such as host egg sacs or insects and other organisms trapped in the web silk threads.[3] Small prey that have not yet been detected by the host spider can be easily stolen from the webs, while prey that have already been attacked and stored for later use may be more difficult to obtain. Larger prey ranging up to sizes ten times larger than it are have usually been previously predigested by the host spider prior to stealing[2]. This behavior is attributed to age-related decreased ability to trap prey in silk thread due to either lack of sticky silk production or slower rate of wrapping.[4]

Host Predation

Sometimes, A. elevatus does not steal an entire prey-packet from the hub of the host's web, and instead share it with the host at the hub.[5] Furthermore, some A. elevatus spiders, particularly juvenile A. elevatus, feed on the host spider.[6] This behavior is based on the differences in size and number of other caught prey available on the web. More specifically, predation is most common when there are fewer prey present in the host’s web and when the two spiders are similar in size.[2]

Web Material

During shortages of regional prey-density, the host will protect its prey-packets from kleptoparasitic spiders even more, limiting the theft success rates and thus diminishing access to food for A. elevatus. Silk from the host's web can also provide a more stable food source, especially during these periods of low success in prey-capture. Even when A. elevatus is successful in capturing the host's insects, web material may also serve as an additional source of nutrition. [3]

Reproduction

Approximately twenty-four hours after the A. elevatus courtship and copulation series of events, the female spider will lay one to two eggs on the outer regions of the host's web. The eggs are embedded on thread structures in these regions, and then left without any parental protection immediately. [1]

Mating

Male-Female Interactions

Nuptial Gifts

During courtship, male A. elevatus presents a nuptial gift, often prey wrapped in silk, to the female.[1] One example of prey offered as the nuptial gift is C. huila. [7] The male spider approaches the female, carrying the nuptial gift on its chelicerae while communicating with a distinct courting vibration. This sequence is different from other spider species that engage in this behavior. [7] This sequence of courtship events, followed by copulation between the two spiders, may last between two to eight hours. This is the longest duration activity within the species, as other interactions range mainly between three seconds to six minutes. [7]

Pheromones

Recent studies have found novel long-chain fatty acid esters, containing unique functional groups, that may point towards their role in chemical communication between A. elevatus spiders. [8] However, more investigation is required to further examine this finding and its relevance in the mating behavior of A. elevatus.

Behavior

Kleptoparasitism

Argyrodes elevatus presides in the outer area of webs built by the Argiope argentata and Nephila clavipes spiders, which are two types of araneid spiders. Up to 45 A. elevatus spiders may be present on a single web depending on the season and host-spider density in the region. [6] There are two main mechanisms by which A. elevatus steals both small and large prey from the host spiders that differ in the timing of the raid.[2] In one strategy, A. elevatus moves towards the center of the web, or the hub, once the host spider has wrapped an insect to immobilize it and leaves to capture another insect. The second strategy follows similar steps, but A. elevatus instead waits for multiple insects to be wrapped into a prey-packet prior to rushing towards the hub to steal the host's captured prey. Studies have shown that the first strategy is more commonly employed by the kleptoparasitic spiders due to higher success rates.[2]

Mechanism of Prey-capture

A. elevatus spiders sense vibrations along the threads of the web to detect silk wrapping of prey by the host spider. In order to best detect these vibrations, A. elevatus produces fine threads that are spread out along the web's radii, including the hub where the prey most-likely reside. These signals are detected by moving its long front legs in a forward and then sideways direction to tap the threads as it slowly moves.[5] The slow movements are aimed to reduce the chances of alerting the host spider of its approach. [5] Once the vibrational cues signal the presence of captured prey, the spider is then triggered to move towards the prey to procure for its own food supply. Studies have suggested that chemotaxis may also play a role in locating the captured prey. Once the prey is identified with the front legs of A. elevatus, various threads are drawn. One thread secures the wrapped prey-packet or single insect to be placed into its chelicerae, while the other threads are placed to direct the spider back to the outer safe regions of the web. These escape threads can be followed after A. elevatus cuts up to 4 cm sections of the host's web threads to detach the prey and retreat.[3] The entire raid, from finding the prey to securing the theft for return to the outskirts, has been seen to be completed in less than twelve seconds on certain occasions.

Success of Prey-capture

If host spiders sense the loss of their stored prey, they may attempt to search the hub for the intruding kleptoparasite and disrupt the theft by aggressively shaking the threads, causing A. elevatus to be shaken off the thread or to retreat. [6]However, it is more common for the host to retrieve the captured prey by intercepting the theft. Studies have shown that A. elevatus are highly successful at capturing prey without being intercepted by the host. One experiment showed an approximate success rate of 67%[2].

Sleeping Patterns

Because of its kleptoparasitic behavior, A. elevatus has opposite patterns of sleep-wake cycles and activity than its host.[1] These host spiders are often diurnal, making A. elevatus most commonly nocturnal. However, this can change if there are multiple species of spiders with different periods of activity. Monitoring host activity is achieved by sensing vibrations within the web signaling host movement.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Oxley, Kristen (2016). "Argyrodes elevatus (Dew-drop Spider)" (PDF). The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Vollrath, Fritz (1979-05-01). "Behaviour of the kleptoparasitic spider Argyrodes elevatus (Araneae, theridiidae)". Animal Behaviour. 27: 515–521. doi:10.1016/0003-3472(79)90186-6. ISSN 0003-3472.
  3. ^ a b c d Higgins, Linden E.; Buskirk, Ruth E. (1998-01-01). "Spider-web kleptoparasites as a model for studying producer-consumer interactions". Behavioral Ecology. 9 (4): 384–387. doi:10.1093/beheco/9.4.384. ISSN 1045-2249.
  4. ^ Trail, Deborah Smith (1980). "Predation by Argyrodes (Theridiidae) on Solitary and Communal Spiders". Psyche. 87 (3–4): 349–355.
  5. ^ a b c Preston-Mafham, Rod; Preston-Mafham, Ken (1993). The Encyclopedia of Land Invertebrate Behaviour. MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-16137-4.
  6. ^ a b c "Notes on the behavior of the kleptoparasitic spider Argyrodes Elevatus (Yheridiidae, Araneae) | Request PDF". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  7. ^ a b c Cobbold, Stephanie M.; Su, Yong-Chao (2010). "The host becomes dinner: possible use of Cyclosa as a nuptial gift by Argyrodes in a colonial web". The Journal of Arachnology. 38 (1): 132–134. ISSN 0161-8202.
  8. ^ Chinta, Satya Prabhakar; Goller, Stephan; Uhl, Gabriele; Schulz, Stefan (2016-09). "Identification and Synthesis of Branched Wax-type Esters, Novel Surface Lipids from the Spider Argyrodes elevatus (Araneae: Theridiidae)". Chemistry & Biodiversity. 13 (9): 1202–1220. doi:10.1002/cbdv.201600020. ISSN 1612-1880. PMID 27447988. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); no-break space character in |title= at position 105 (help)

Cite error: A list-defined reference named "itis" is not used in the content (see the help page).
Cite error: A list-defined reference named "gbif" is not used in the content (see the help page).
Cite error: A list-defined reference named "spidercat" is not used in the content (see the help page).

Cite error: A list-defined reference named "buglink" is not used in the content (see the help page).