Contrasting patch choosing by anthophilous ambush predators: vegetation and floral cues for decisions by a crab spider (Misumena vatia) and males and females of an ambush bug (Phymata americana)

Abstract

Field-collected individuals of Misumena vatia and Phymata americana were compared experimentally as to the kind of vegetation and flower cues they use to choose a hunting site, by introducing them into choice arenas with variously manipulated natural stems of three species of plant and with artificial flowers. Misumena vatia showed a strong preference for stems with flowers or leaves or both; P. americana did not prefer normal stems as strongly and it did not show a statistically significant preference among the various manipulated patches. Both predators discriminated among Solidago canadensis, Daucus carota, and Cirsium arvense, showing a clear preference for the first. Misumena vatia showed a clear preference for yellow artificial flowers on wooden sticks when given a choice of four different colours. Phymata americana preferred yellow or blue to white or red, showing no discrimination between colours of the same group (yellow vs. blue or white vs. red). Misumena vatia took the longest time (ca. 43 min) to complete its choice of stem; female and male P. americana took 18 and 15 min, respectively. In all the experiments P. americana showed sexual diethism, the females being more choosy than the males. The ranking of discrimination from greatest to least was as follows: M. vatia, females of P. americana, and males of P. americana. We suggest that both species of predators have different strategies of patch choice and that in the case of P. americana, males and females have different patterns of patch selection, the males searching not only for prey but also for mates.

Tritrophic interactions in a pollination system: impacts of species composition and size of flower patches on the hunting success of a flower-dwelling spider

“…Discrimination among plant species is not unique to Misumenoides. Preferences have also been found in M. vatia and in the ambush bug, Phymata americana (Greco and Kevan 1994), and may be common among anthophilous predators. Discrimination by predatory arthropods among flower patches on the basis of patch size alone has not been documented.…”

Pollinators as bioindicators of the state of the environment: species, activity and diversity

“…For example, many insects that are useful in biocontrol of pests require florally derived food to mate, find hosts, oviposit and complete their life cycles (Jervis et al, 1993;Ruppert, 1993). There are also anthophiles that use floral sites for capturing prey (Kevan and Baker, 1983;Greco and Kevan, 1994).…”

“…Commercially reared bumblebees are an important component of greenhouse tomato production (Kevan et al, 1991c;Kevan, 1994). At least three regionally native species are being used, Bombus terrestris L. in Europe, B. impatiens Cresson in eastern North America, and B. occidentalis Greene in western North America.…”

Phytochemical cues affect hunting-site choices of a nursery web spider (Pisaura mirabilis) but not a crab spider (Misumena vatia)

“…However, we could not confirm positive responses to floral odors or compounds thereof. Greco and Kevan (1994;2001) also reported no discrimination between leaves and flowers by the same spider species. It was shown that M. vatia remains longer on flowers that are frequented by pollinators (Chien & Morse 1998;Morse 2000a) and on flowers that they have experienced before (Morse 2000b).…”