Frame-web-choice experiments with sting-less bees support the prey-attraction hypothesis for silk decorations in Argiope savignyi

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_E99AC313E7C8
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Title
Frame-web-choice experiments with sting-less bees support the prey-attraction hypothesis for silk decorations in Argiope savignyi
Journal
Journal of arachnology
Author(s)
Gálvez D.
ISSN
0161-8202
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2009
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
37
Number
3
Pages
249-253
Language
english
Abstract
There is controversy about the function of silk stabilimenta, also called silk decorations, on spiders' webs. Most of the proposed hypotheses have been tested using indirect methods. Protection against predators, advertisement for vertebrates to avoid web damage, and increasing prey attraction are the most popular hypotheses. In this study, I tested the prey attraction hypothesis on the silk decorations of the araneid Argiope savignyi using a trial tunnel built in the field in which I exposed stingless bees Tetragonisca angustula to decorated and undecorated webs placed on wooden frames. I carried out two experiments: 1) a three frame-choice, consisting of a frame bearing a decorated web, one bearing an undecorated web and a control frame without web and spider. 2) A two frame-choice, in which the bees were exposed to only two frames consisting of the following: "decorated web vs. control," "decorated web vs. undecorated web," and "undecorated web vs. control". In favor of the prey attraction function, I found that decorated webs intercepted more bees than either webs deprived of the decoration or controls with no webs. Argiope savignyi's decorations might lure prey to the web by UV-reflectance as it has been suggested for other Argiope species.
Keywords
ORB-SPINNING SPIDERS, GASTERACANTHA-CANCRIFORMIS, FORAGING BEHAVIOR, WEAVING SPIDER, ARANEIDAE, ARANEAE, STABILIMENTUM, PREDATOR, TRIFASCIATA, ARGENTATA
Web of science
Create date
07/10/2009 13:17
Last modification date
20/08/2019 17:12
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