Natural prey of the crab spider Xysticus marmoratus (Araneae: Thomisidae) on Eryngium plants

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2014
Authors:Foglu E Huseynov
Journal:Journal of Arachnology
Volume:42
Pagination:130–132
Keywords:Araneae, kleptoparasitism, Milichiidae
Abstract:

The natural prey of medium-sized juvenile (ca. 3 mm) crab spiders Xysticus marmoratus Thorell 1875 inhabiting Eryngium biebersteinianum plants was studied on the Absheron Peninsula, Azerbaijan. The percentage of specimens found feeding on prey was low (3.4%). Xysticus marmoratus is a polyphagous predator with representatives of four arthropod orders found in its diet. The primary food of X. marmoratus was ants (Formicidae), which accounted for 83.3% of the total number of prey. The length of prey killed by X. marmoratus ranged between 0.87–7.50 mm (mean 2.96 mm) and constituted from 28.5–300.0% (mean 96.9%) of the length of their captors. The most frequently captured size group of prey was 50–70% the length of the spiders.

URL:http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1636/P13-86.1
DOI:10.1636/P13-86.1
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