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Honey Bees Tune Colony and Individual Foraging to Multi-Predator Presence and Food Quality
Fearful Foragers: Honey Bees Tune Colony and Individual Foraging to Multi-Predator Presence and Food Quality Ken Tan1,2*, Zongwen Hu2, Weiwen Chen2, Zhengwei Wang2, Yuchong Wang2, James C. Nieh3 1 Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Science, Kunming, China, 2 Eastern Bee Research Institute, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China, 3 Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America Abstract Fear can have strong ecosystem effects by giving predators a role disproportionate to their actual kill rates. In bees, fear is shown through foragers avoiding dangerous food sites, thereby reducing the fitness of pollinated plants. However, it remains unclear how fear affects pollinators in a complex natural scenario involving multiple predator species and different patch qualities. We studied hornets, Vespa velutina (smaller) and V. tropica (bigger) preying upon the Asian honey bee, Apis cerana in China. Hornets hunted bees on flowers and were attacked by bee colonies. Bees treated the bigger hornet species (which is 4 fold more massive) as more dangerous. It received 4.5 fold more attackers than the smaller hornet species. We tested bee responses to a three-feeder array with different hornet species and varying resource qualities. When all feeders offered 30% sucrose solution (w/w), colony foraging allocation, individual visits, and individual patch residence times were reduced according to the degree of danger. Predator presence reduced foraging visits by 55–79% and residence times by 17–33%. When feeders offered different reward levels (15%, 30%, or 45% sucrose), colony and individual foraging favored higher sugar concentrations. -
Oak Woodland Litter Spiders James Steffen Chicago Botanic Garden
Oak Woodland Litter Spiders James Steffen Chicago Botanic Garden George Retseck Objectives • Learn about Spiders as Animals • Learn to recognize common spiders to family • Learn about spider ecology • Learn to Collect and Preserve Spiders Kingdom - Animalia Phylum - Arthropoda Subphyla - Mandibulata Chelicerata Class - Arachnida Orders - Acari Opiliones Pseudoscorpiones Araneae Spiders Arachnids of Illinois • Order Acari: Mites and Ticks • Order Opiliones: Harvestmen • Order Pseudoscorpiones: Pseudoscorpions • Order Araneae: Spiders! Acari - Soil Mites Characteriscs of Spiders • Usually four pairs of simple eyes although some species may have less • Six pair of appendages: one pair of fangs (instead of mandibles), one pair of pedipalps, and four pair of walking legs • Spinnerets at the end of the abdomen, which are used for spinning silk threads for a variety of purposes, such as the construction of webs, snares, and retreats in which to live or to wrap prey • 1 pair of sensory palps (often much larger in males) between the first pair of legs and the chelicerae used for sperm transfer, prey manipulation, and detection of smells and vibrations • 1 to 2 pairs of book-lungs on the underside of abdomen • Primitively, 2 body regions: Cephalothorax, Abdomen Spider Life Cycle • Eggs in batches (egg sacs) • Hatch inside the egg sac • molt to spiderlings which leave from the egg sac • grows during several more molts (instars) • at final molt, becomes adult – Some long-lived mygalomorphs (tarantulas) molt after adulthood Phenology • Most temperate -
Crab Spiders Impact Floral-Signal Evolution Indirectly Through Removal
ARTICLE DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03792-x OPEN Crab spiders impact floral-signal evolution indirectly through removal of florivores Anina C. Knauer1, Moe Bakhtiari1,2 & Florian P. Schiestl1 The puzzling diversity of flowers is primarily shaped by selection and evolutionary change caused by the plant’s interaction with animals. The contribution of individual animal species to net selection, however, may vary depending on the network of interacting organisms. Here 1234567890():,; we document that in the buckler mustard, Biscutella laevigata, the crab spider Thomisus onustus reduces bee visits to flowers but also benefits plants by feeding on florivores. Uninfested plants experience a trade-off between pollinator and spider attraction as both bees and crab spiders are attracted by the floral volatile β-ocimene. This trade-off is reduced by the induced emission of β-ocimene after florivore infestation, which is stronger in plant populations where crab spiders are present than where they are absent, suggesting that plants are locally adapted to the presence of crab spiders. Our study demonstrates the context-dependence of selection and shows how crab spiders impact on floral evolution. 1 Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland. 2Present address: Institute of Biology, University of Neuchatel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, 2000 Neuchatel, Switzerland. Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressedto F.P.S. (email: fl[email protected]) NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | (2018) 9:1367 | DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03792-x | www.nature.com/naturecommunications 1 ARTICLE NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03792-x lant–animal interactions are a major driver of plant Crab spiders camouflage themselves on flowers to hunt flower- evolution, including both local adaptation and species visiting insects such as pollinators (Fig. -
Mimicry and Camouflaging Spiders
Antelope Island Spider Festival Mimicry and Camouflaging Spiders In the natural world mimicry is a phenomenon These spiders will mimic ants in several encountered frequently in the natural world, different ways. Anything from moving in the and the world of spiders is no exception. same fashion as ants to even having altered body shapes. One species, Castianeira Mimicry can be used by one organism to avoid longipalpa (kass-tee-uh-NEE-ruh lon-jih-PAHL- predation by puh), even goes so far as to wave around its looking or front two legs like antennae. acting similar to a more For the most part spiders in the Corinnidae dangerous family don’t spin a web with the exception of a organism. Such small shelter, called a sac, to rest in underneath as with the a log or rock or in the leaf litter when they scarlet king aren’t hunting for food or looking for mates. snake, which is Corinnidae spiders tend to prey on smaller harmless, and insects. Some common prey items include ants, the eastern ant larvae, leaf or tree hoppers, fruit flies, and coral snake, micro moths. which is highly venomous. Another phenomenon found frequently in the natural world is camouflage, and once again Mimicry can also be used aggressively, as in a spiders utilize this as well. predator resembling its prey, or a parasite its host. There are several examples of spiders Camouflage can be used by an organism to performing this kind of mimicry. blend in with its background to avoid predation. It can also be used by an ambush There are at least two families of spiders with predator to blend in with the background so members that practice mimicry. -
Gillespie, RG 1989. Diet-Induced Color Change in the Hawaiian Happy
Gillespie, R. G . 1989 . Diet-induced color change in the Hawaiian happy-face spider Theridion grallator (Araneae, Theridiidae) . J . Arachnol ., 17:171-177 . DIET-INDUCED COLOR CHANGE IN THE HAWAIIAN HAPPY-FACE SPIDER THERIDION GRALLATOR, (ARANEAE, THERIDIIDAE) Rosemary G. Gillespie' Department of Entomology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822' USA ABSTRACT The Hawaiian happy-face spider Theridion grallator,Simon is a smalll spider, endemic to Hawaii, where it is found under leaves in the wet and mesic forests . The abdomen is pale, translucent yellow, but variable amounts of red, black or white pigment may be superimposed on this to generate a host of patterned morphs . The translucence of the abdomen may enhance crypsis against predators searching the underside of leaves ; the variability in the superimposed pattern may serve to counteract the development of a search image by the predator . The present study documents plasticity in base coloration, which can changee rapidly and markedly following ingestion of certain types of prey . This may be merely a consequence of abdominal translucence . But it is interesting to note that it adds a whole new dimension to the color polymorphism of the species . INTRODUCTION Color change in animals is a widespread phenomenon . It is generally associated with a change in physiological state . This in turn may be induced by ontogenetic or environmental changes, or stress . In spiders, color change is known to occur under a variety of circumstances . Ontogenetic modifictions are widespread, with the adult coloration being attained in the final molt (Bonnet 1933; Homann 1946; Millot 1949). More rapid changes in color pattern have been noted in spiders of the family Araneidae, which accumulate guanine beneath the cuticle during periods of starvation, thereby developing a pattern of opaque white blotches over the abdomen (Foelix 1979) . -
Insects and Plants Short-Winged Green Grasshopper Often, Insects Can Be Found on Or Around Certain Plants Because of Their Life Cycles
Order Orthoptera: Grasshoppers & Kin Insects and Plants Short-winged Green Grasshopper Often, insects can be found on or around certain plants because of their life cycles. Here Dichromorpha viridis are a few plants at Horse Hill that support a Can be green, brown, or a high diversity of insect species. mix. Found in fields. Milkweed Fork-tailed Bush Katydid Clusters of pink flowers, large Insects seed pods. Insects that eat this Scudderia furcata are often red/orange and black Found on deciduous trees to show they are poisonous. and shrubs. Their call can be heard day and night. Goldenrod Various types found in fields Order Diptera: Flies and forests. Attracts many types of pollinators and predators. Hover Fly Blackberry Toxomerus geminatus Thorny brambles. Insects use the The larva of this harmless leaves, stems, and fruit for food bee-mimic is a predator of and also for shelter. aphids, helping gardeners. Jewelweed Deer Fly Also called touch-me-not for its Chrysops sp. exploding seed pods. Usually grows near poison ivy and is a of Horse Hill Nature Only females bite, males natural remedy for such. drink nectar. The larvae are aquatic. Most common in July. Why be interested in insects? Preserve Class Arachnida: Spiders & Kin Insects dominate planet Earth in both diversity Other arthropods are also diverse, and and multitude. They come in every shape, color, captivating in their life cycles and habits. and form, some undergoing transformations that defy imagination. The vast majority of Goldenrod Crab Spider By Molly Jacobson insects are beneficial or harmless, and all are Misumena vatia fascinating. -
Australian Native Bees Avoid Their Spider Predators
by responding to the same floral signals as these honeybees do (Heiling & Herberstein 2004; Heiling et al. 2004). Fur- thermore, it manipulates visual floral signals. While Euro- pean crab spiders appear camouflaged on flowers (Chittka 2001; The´ry & Casas 2002), T. spectabilis produces a Predator–prey coevolution: strong colour contrast in the UV range of the light spec- trum, attracting honeybees (Heiling et al. 2003). This is Australian native bees in line with empirical data showing that bees are attracted to strongly contrasting marks on flowers (Lunau et al. avoid their spider 1996). predators European honeybees did not coevolve with T. spectabilis but were introduced to Australia ca. 200 years ago. By * contrast, native Australian bees that are also captured by A. M. Heiling and M. E. Herberstein T. spectabilis coevolved with this species. We test our pre- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, diction that native Australian bees evolved anti-predatory NSW 2109, Australia * Author for correspondence ([email protected]). behaviour to avoid their predators, unlike the naive Euro- pean honeybees. Recd 14.10.03; Accptd 10.11.03; Published online 12.01.04 2. MATERIAL AND METHODS Australian crab spiders Thomisus spectabilis Thomisus spectabilis were collected in suburban areas of Brisbane, manipulate visual flower signals to lure introduced Australia. Females reach a body length of ca. 1 cm. Female coloration Apis mellifera. We gave Australian native bees, Aus- varies and we used only white ones in our experiments. Native bees (Austroplebia australis) that were kept in an outdoor hive at the Uni- troplebia australis, the choice between two white versity grounds were transferred into a growth house and trained to daisies, Chrysanthemum frutescens, one of them visit a feeding station (ca. -
Common Spiders of the Chicago Region 1 the Field Museum – Division of Environment, Culture, and Conservation
An Introduction to the Spiders of Chicago Wilderness, USA Common Spiders of the Chicago Region 1 The Field Museum – Division of Environment, Culture, and Conservation Produced by: Jane and John Balaban, North Branch Restoration Project; Rebecca Schillo, Conservation Ecologist, The Field Museum; Lynette Schimming, BugGuide.net. © ECCo, The Field Museum, Chicago, IL 60605 USA [http://fieldmuseum.org/IDtools] [[email protected]] version 2, 2/2012 Images © Tom Murray, Lynette Schimming, Jane and John Balaban, and others – Under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License (non-native species listed in red) ARANEIDAE ORB WEAVERS Orb Weavers and Long-Jawed Orb Weavers make classic orb webs made famous by the book Charlotte’s Web. You can sometimes tell a spider by its eyes, most have eight. This chart shows the orb weaver eye arrangement (see pg 6 for more info) 1 ARANEIDAE 2 Argiope aurantia 3 Argiope trifasciata 4 Araneus marmoreus Orb Weaver Spider Web Black and Yellow Argiope Banded Argiope Marbled Orbweaver ORB WEAVERS are classic spiders of gardens, grasslands, and woodlands. The Argiope shown here are the large grassland spiders of late summer and fall. Most Orb Weavers mature in late summer and look slightly different as juveniles. Pattern and coloring can vary in some species such as Araneus marmoreus. See the link for photos of its color patterns: 5 Araneus thaddeus 6 Araneus cingulatus 7 Araneus diadematus 8 Araneus trifolium http://bugguide.net/node/view/2016 Lattice Orbweaver Cross Orbweaver Shamrock Orbweaver 9 Metepeira labyrinthea 10 Neoscona arabesca 11 Larinioides cornutus 12 Araniella displicata 13 Verrucosa arenata Labyrinth Orbweaver Arabesque Orbweaver Furrow Orbweaver Sixspotted Orbweaver Arrowhead Spider TETRAGNATHIDAE LONG-JAWED ORB WEAVERS Leucauge is a common colorful spider of our gardens and woodlands, often found hanging under its almost horizontal web. -
Perception of Ultraviolet Light by Crab Spiders and Its Role in Selection of Hunting Sites
J Comp Physiol A (2009) 195:409–417 DOI 10.1007/s00359-009-0419-6 ORIGINAL PAPER Perception of ultraviolet light by crab spiders and its role in selection of hunting sites Ramachandra M. Bhaskara Æ C. M. Brijesh Æ Saveer Ahmed Æ Renee M. Borges Received: 22 November 2008 / Revised: 19 January 2009 / Accepted: 23 January 2009 / Published online: 24 February 2009 Ó Springer-Verlag 2009 Abstract The perception of ultraviolet (UV) light by spi- 1995; Briscoe and Chittka 2001). Among invertebrates, UV ders has so far been only demonstrated in salticids. Crab sensitivity is an ancient trait and is known in many insects spiders (Thomisidae) hunt mostly on flowers and need to find including honeybees (Briscoe and Chittka 2001; Kevan appropriate hunting sites. Previous studies have shown that et al. 2001). The importance of visual signals or cues, some crab spiders that reflect UV light use UV contrast to especially in the UV range, in either legitimate communi- enhance prey capture. The high UV contrast can be obtained cation or sensory exploitation has been of considerable either by modulation of body colouration or active selection interest in both invertebrates and vertebrates (Endler 1993). of appropriate backgrounds for foraging. We show that crab The role of UV in mate choice has been demonstrated in spiders (Thomisus sp.) hunting on Spathiphyllum plants use taxa as diverse as butterflies (Papke et al. 2007), jumping chromatic contrast, especially UV contrast, to make them- spiders (Lim et al. 2007, 2008), birds (Cuthill et al. 2000; selves attractive to hymenopteran prey. Apart from that, they Hausmann et al. -
The Role of UV in Crab Spider Signals: Effects on Perception by Prey and Predators Astrid M
The Journal of Experimental Biology 208, 3925-3931 3925 Published by The Company of Biologists 2005 doi:10.1242/jeb.01861 The role of UV in crab spider signals: effects on perception by prey and predators Astrid M. Heiling1,*, Ken Cheng2, Lars Chittka3, Ann Goeth1 and Marie E. Herberstein1 1Department of Biological Sciences and 2Centre for the Integrative Study of Animal Behaviour, Macquarie University, North Ryde, 2109 NSW Australia, 3School of Biological Sciences, Queen Mary College, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK *Author for correspondence (e-mail: [email protected]) Accepted 25 August 2005 Summary Australian crab spiders Thomisus spectabilis sit on the spiders, UV– spiders produced less excitation of the UV- petals of flowers and ambush prey such as honeybees. photoreceptors in honeybees and blue tits, which White-coloured T. spectabilis reflect in the UV (UV+ translated into a reduced UV-receptor contrast and a spiders) and previous research has shown that their reduced overall colour contrast between UV– spiders and presence, curiously, attracts honeybees to daisies. We daisy petals. Our results reveal that a clean physical applied an UV-absorber (Parsol®) to create UV-absorbing elimination of reflection in the UV range affects (UV–) spiders that did not reflect any light below 395·nm perception in predators and prey and ultimately changes wavelength. These physical changes of visual signals the behaviour of prey. generated by crab spiders caused honeybees to avoid flowers with UV– spiders on their petals. They also affected the perception of UV– spiders by honeybees and a Key words: Thomisus spectabilis, Apis mellifera, communication, potential avian predator (blue tits). -
A Gap Analysis of Biodiversity Research in Rocky Mountain National Park: a Pilot Study on Spiders
A GAP ANALYSIS OF BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK: A PILOT STUDY ON SPIDERS FINAL REPORT By ATBI/BIOBLITZ SWAT TEAM Sahil Chaini Zhenzhen Chen Casey Johnson Jianyu Wu Dr. James Clark, Adviser April 24th 2015 Master’s project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Environmental Management degree in the Nicholas School of the Environment of Duke University 2015 Executive Summary Research on biodiversity and the relationship between organisms is imperative to establish management practices for the conservation of protected areas. The E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation (EOWBF) formed our team of four Duke University students as the first of many ATBI/BioBlitz SWAT teams to travel to protected areas and develop approaches to conduct All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) and BioBlitz that can inform their conservation. Upon arrival at Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), we conducted data mining to determine major gaps in the understanding of biodiversity inventories. We used available species lists from research conducted in the Park to ensure that the National Park species database, NPSpecies, contains the most up-to- date information. Our team added 645 species of plants and fungi to the database through this process. After completing this gap analysis, we identified spiders as the subject of our field study. This document consists of five sections. The first section provides background information about RMNP. We discuss the extreme elevational gradient and variety of habitat types that occur in the park. These major physical and biological processes have motivated three hypotheses to study spiders. We hypothesize that spider species richness: (1) is higher during night sampling than day sampling; (2) decreases as elevation increases; and (3) is higher in riparian zones. -
Common Spiders of North Carolina
Irregular Spiny-backed Common Spiders of North Orbweaver shaped Gasteracantha Carolina (WEB builders) abdomen cancriformis B. Bockhahn 2012 CIRCULAR (ORB) WEB Arrow-head Spider Arrowhead Verrucosa arenata Micrathena FUNNEL SHEET/ Micrathena Spined Micrathena sagittata WEB COBWEB Round abdomen Bowl and Doily Spider White Micrathena M. mitrata Micrathena gracilis Frotinella communis No yellow Web in bushes Some yellow Banded Argiope Giant Lichen Argiope trifasciata Orbweaver Araneus bicentarius Funnel Web Spider Filmy Dome Spider Agelenopsis sp. Prolinyphia Furrow Web in hiding marginata Marbled Orbweaver Orbweaver Smaller legs Araneus marmoreus Larionoides cornutus Very long legs Black & Yellow Argiope Argiope aurantia Venusta Orchard Spider Humpbacked Rusty-red Neoscona Leucage venusta Orbweaver Neoscona crucifera Eustala anastera Cellar Spider Black Widow False Black Widow Steatoda grossa Pholcus phalangioides Latrodectus sp. Common House Spider Achaearanea tepidariorum Spotted Forest Arabesque Orbweaver Leafy Cobweb Weaver Lined Orbweaver Orbweaver Neoscona Harvestman :not a spider Theridion frondeum Mangora gibberosa Neoscona arabesca domiciliorum Common Spiders of North On flower Carolina (non-WEB builders) ON F M PLANT Goldenrod Crab Spider Misumena vatia White-banded Crab Spider ON DWELLING NEAR WATER ON GROUND Green leaves Misumenoides formosipes Nursery Web Spider Pisaurina mira Large size Small Green Lynx Spider Tan Crab Spider White Sac Spider Xysticus ferox Elaver excepta Peucetia viridans Bold Jumper Jumping Longjawed Jumper