Diaspores of myrmecochorous plants as food for certain spiders

Suvák, Martin

doi:10.30963/aramit5706

Cited by 1 publication

(3 citation statements)

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“…4E; Suvák 2019). To learn more about the capability of spiders to use elaiosomes as a potential food source, Suvák (2019) conducted a greenhouse experiment by throwing elaiosome-bearing seeds of various plant taxa into webs of the spiders Parasteatoda sp. and Uloborus plumipes Lucas, 1846 (Uloboridae).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, in a greenhouse in Slovakia, the comb-footed spider ( Parasteatoda sp., Theridiidae) was seen feeding on elaiosomes of the elaiosome-bearing seeds of Costus dubius (Costaceae) trapped in its web (Fig. 4E; Suvák 2019). To learn more about the capability of spiders to use elaiosomes as a potential food source, Suvák (2019) conducted a greenhouse experiment by throwing elaiosome-bearing seeds of various plant taxa into webs of the spiders Parasteatoda sp.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For spiders, the number of reports of consumption of plant materials is considerably higher, but most of them refer to cases in which nectar and pollen are consumed (Nyffeler et al 2016). In recent years, however, new evidence of vegetarian diet (i.e., plant and fungi consumption) in harvestmen and spiders has been published (e.g., Del-Claro et al 2017; Eastburn 2017; Lietzenmayer & Wagner 2017; Nahas et al 2017; Hyodo et al 2018; Benhadi-Marín et al 2019; Cathrine 2019; Pagoti et al 2019; Suvák 2019; Hashimoto et al 2020; Suzuki et al 2021). The term “vegetarian” is currently used in relation to carnivores, which occasionally switch to plant and/or fungal food as an alternative to prey (e.g., Beckman & Hurd 2003; Wäckers & Fadamiro 2005; Meehan et al 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fungus and fruit consumption by harvestmen and spiders (Opiliones, Araneae): the vegetarian side of two predominantly predaceous arachnid groups

Nyffeler

Machado

Hartmann

et al. 2023

The Journal of Arachnology

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In this review, we report on harvestmen and spiders feeding on fungi, fruits, and seeds. Fungivory in harvestmen is widespread, with most reports referring to tropical species in the family Sclerosomatidae, which consume mainly small forest mushrooms (families Marasmiaceae and Mycenaceae). In contrast, consumption of fungal material by spiders apparently occurs only if airborne spores trapped in the viscid threads of orb-webs (e.g., Araneidae and Tetragnathidae) are ingested along with old webs prior to the construction of new webs. Consumption of fruit pulp by harvestmen is also widespread, with several records of Leiobunum spp. (Sclerosomatidae) feeding on Rubus spp. berries and other lipid-poor fruits in the Holarctic region. In Neotropical forests, harvestmen in the families Cosmetidae and Gonyleptidae feed on lipidpoor pulp of fallen fruits. Among spiders, we document several cases of synanthropic species opportunistically feeding on fruit waste (e.g., pieces of banana, papaya, watermelon, or orange pulp) inside houses or disposed in yards. Only one case of a spider feeding on a wild fruit in the field was found in our search. Finally, we report several cases of harvestmen and spiders feeding on elaiosomes or arils (i.e., lipid-rich seed appendages). In conclusion, harvestmen consume mushrooms, fruit pulp, seeds, and seed appendages more frequently than spiders probably because they are ''solid food feeders'', which means they can ingest solid tissues by biting off small pieces. In turn, spiders are ''fluid feeders'' and feed on vegetable matter most frequently in the form of fluids (e.g., nectar, stigmatic exudate, plant sap, and honey dew), rather than fungal or plant tissues.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%