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Notes on the Feeding Habits of a Wandering Spider, Phoneutria Boliviensis (Arachnida: Ctenidae)

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Notes on the Feeding Habits of a Wandering Spider, Phoneutria Boliviensis (Arachnida: Ctenidae) 2020. Journal of Arachnology 48:43–48 Notes on the feeding habits of a wandering spider, Phoneutria boliviensis (Arachnida: Ctenidae) Juan Carlos Valenzuela-Rojas1,2, Julio Ce´sar Gonza´lez-Go´mez2, Giovany Guevara3, Lida Marcela Franco4, Gladys Reinoso- Flo´rez3 and Luis Fernando Garc´ıa5: 1Programa de Licenciatura en Ciencias Naturales y Educacio´n Ambiental. Facultad de Educacio´n. Universidad Surcolombiana. Neiva, Huila, Colombia. E-mail: [email protected]; 2Grupo de Investigacio´n Biolog´ıa y Ecolog´ıa de Artro´podos (BEA), Corporacio´n Huiltur y Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Altos de Santa Helena, Ibague´, Colombia; 3Grupo de Investigacio´n en Zoolog´ıa (GIZ), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Altos de Santa Helena, Ibague´, Colombia; 4Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matema´ticas, Universidad de Ibague´, Ibague´, Colombia; 5Grupo Multidisciplinario en Ecolog´ıa para la Agricultura, Centro Universitario Regional Este, Universidad de la Repu´blica, Treinta y Tres, Uruguay. Abstract. Phoneutria Perty, 1833 is considered one of the most toxic spider genera in the world; however, the natural history and biology of these spiders is still largely unexplored. The objective of this study was to determine the natural diet of the medically important species Phoneutria boliviensis (F.O.P.-Cambridge, 1897) based on prey records from Colombia, and supplemented by published records found in electronic databases as well as photographic records from the internet. We found that P. boliviensis is an euryphagous predator with a broad diet made up predominantly of arthropods (orders Araneae, Blattodea, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Mantodea, Orthoptera, and Phasmatodea) and to a lesser extent of small vertebrates (Gekkonidae, Hylidae, and Sphaerodactylidae). These results support previous evidence suggesting that P. boliviensis is a generalist predator that includes both invertebrates and small vertebrates in its diet. Keywords: Colombia, diet, generalist predator, predation Spiders are the seventh most abundant group of terrestrial genus Phoneutria.Bu¨cherl (1969), Lucas (1988), Ramos et al. predators on the planet as well as being the most diversified (1998), and Almeida et al. (2000), have examined different order (Peka´r & Toft 2014). They are predators of great aspects of activity, territorial behavior and prey, preference of importance in terrestrial ecosystems where they can have ecotopes, reproduction and use of habitat, mainly from significant effects on the other arthropod communities (Clarke Phoneutria nigriventer (Keyserling, 1891). & Grant 1968; Wilder 2011). They have been described as Phoneutria boliviensis (F.O.P.-Cambridge, 1897) is a spider possible controllers of pests in crops (Sunderland & Samu of medical importance with a wide distribution from Costa 2000; Nyffeler & Birkhofer 2017). Their natural prey are Rica to northernmost Argentina (Hazzi 2014). In addition, it mainly invertebrates—mostly springtails and other arthropods has a powerful venom which contains a neurotoxin, similar to (Nyffeler & Birkhofer 2017). In addition to this, some species that produced by other Phoneutria spp. (Estrada-Go´mez et al. in the families Araneidae, Ctenidae, Nephilidae, Lycosidae, 2015). In Colombia, P. boliviensis bites have been poorly Salticidae, Sparassidae and Theraphosidae have been reported documented. However, Flo´rez et al. (2003) reported 31 bite to consume small vertebrates such as lizards, frogs, fishes, bats accidents in several municipalities in the department of and birds (Foelix 2010; Nyffeler & Kno¨rnschild 2013; Nyffeler Antioquia in one month. & Pusey 2014; Nyffeler et al. 2017). The possibility that spiders Despite the importance of this group and in contrast to have for accessing different types of prey is attributed to other medically important spiders groups such as Loxosceles several capture strategies that they can develop (Willemart & or Latrodectus (see Bu¨cherl 1969; Salomon 2011; Vetter 2015), Lacava 2017), including the construction of webs and the use few studies have been made regarding to the biology or of venom to immobilize and/or kill prey (Kuhn-Nentwig et al. natural history of Phoneutria spiders (Bu¨cherl 1969; Lucas 2011). Spider venoms are mixtures of peptides and proteins 1988; Ramos et al. 1998; Hazzi 2014) focused on observations that allow the spiders to quickly immobilize their prey, and of predatory behavior, mating and development. defend themselves against possible predators (Casewell et al. Because knowledge of the natural diet provides important 2013). So far, few studies have reported on the natural diet of information on spiders’ trophic ecology (Peka´r et al. 2017), the venomous spiders, particularly in the Neotropical region, aim of this research was to describe the feeding habits of the where feeding behavior studies have been focused mainly in medically important wandering spider Phoneutria boliviensis some groups such as Latrodectus Walckenaer, 1805 (Theridi- based on field observations, a literature search, and photo- idae) and Loxosceles Heineken & Lowe, 1832 (Sicariidae) graphic records found on the internet. Taking into account the (Dias & Brazil 1999; Fischer et al. 2006; Pompozzi et al. 2013; lack of information about spiders of the genus Phoneutria, we Garc´ıa et al. 2016). expect this study will contribute to the knowledge of this Species in the genus Phoneutria Perty, 1833 are considered important group of spiders. to be one of the main groups of spiders of medical importance (Herzig et al. 2002; Foelix 2010; Torres-Sa´nchez & Gasnier METHODS 2010), with bites widely reported in tropical areas, particularly so in Brazil (see Herzig et al. 2002; Peralta 2013). Several We evaluated the composition of the diet (consumed prey) studies have addressed different aspects of the biology of the in populations of P. boliviensis, present in rural and urban 43 44 JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY Figure 1.—Prey reported for Phoneutria boliviensis. A. Phasmatodea. B. Saturniidae (source: www.flickr.com/andreaskay/albums). C. Phyllophaga sp. D. Acheta cf. E. Orthoptera. F. Odonata remains. G. Blatta cf. H. Gonatodes albogularis (female) (source: www.flickr.com/ Diegophidio/albums). I. Ctenus sp. J. Periplaneta americana.K.Hemidactylus frenatus (female). L. P. boliviensis. areas of two localities in Colombia: Oporapa (Huila, prey remains could not be identified, these were not measured. 281040.5"N; 75859043"W) and Ibague´ (Tolima, 4826016"N; To analyze the relationship between the spider’s body length 75812002"W). Between June of 2017 and August of 2018, four and prey size, we used a linear regression using the statistical field trips were made, three to Oporapa and one to Ibague´ software R version 3.5.0 (R Core Team 2018). Prey items where spiders were collected on roadsides and close to coffee captured by P. boliviensis wereclassifiedtothelowest crops and pastures. In Oporapa four collectors sampled taxonomic level allowed by their condition and grouped into spiders in a 10 km2 area during 12 days. In Ibague´, two morphospecies. Phoneutria boliviensis was identified using the collectors sampled spiders in 1 km2 area during two days. key proposed by Martins & Bertani (2007) and confirmed by Observations were made between the hours of 21:00 and 05:00, specialists on this group. Sampled individuals were deposited using headlights, as Phoneutria spiders are mainly nocturnal in the entomological collection of the University of Tolima. (Hazzi 2014). Spiders and their prey were photographed in situ In addition, we conducted a literature search based largely with a Nikon D7000 digital camera, equipped with a 60 mm on the Thomson-Reuters data base (Web of Science), Google Nikkor lens; a millimeter paper was used as a reference to Search, Google Scholar, Google Books, Google Pictures, establish predator:prey size ratio using the software ImageJ ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, Scielo.org, ScienceDirect (Rueden et al. 2017). We identified the sex and measured the and the hosting website Flickr image following the method- length of the spider’s body (prosomaþopisthosoma length) ology suggested by Nyffeler & Kno¨rnschild (2013). Three and the total body length of the prey when possible. When photographs were selected where P. boliviensis could be VALENZUELA-ROJAS ET AL.—FEEDING OF Table 1.—Prey reported for Phoneutria boliviensis from selected electronic databases and records supporting two new distributional data for Colombia. Relation Spider predator Predator/ Location (province, country) Habitat (sex) Prey species prey length Observation Source Oporapa (Huila, Colombia) Leaf litter P. boliviensis (female) Acheta sp. (Gryllidae) 0.83 Field observation This study Oporapa (Huila, Colombia) Rural road P. boliviensis (-) Mantidae - Field observation This study Oporapa (Huila, Colombia) Pastureland P. boliviensis (female) Phyllophaga sp. 0.63 Field observation This study (Scarabaeidae) Oporapa (Huila, Colombia) Rural road P. boliviensis (male) Ctenus sp. (Ctenidae) 0.52 Field observation This study Oporapa (Huila, Colombia) Leaf litter P. boliviensis (female) P. boliviensis (female) 1.10 Field observation This study (Ctenidae) Oporapa (Huila, Colombia) Leaf litter P. boliviensis (female) Orthoptera 1.19 Field observation This study Ibague´, (Tolima, Colombia) Leaf of a P. boliviensis (female) Tettigoniidae 2.18 Field observation This study living plant PHONEUTRIA BOLIVIENSIS Ibague´, (Tolima, Colombia) - P. boliviensis (female) Hemidactylus frenatus 3.27 Web search This
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