Lycosid spiders and alternative food: Feeding behavior and implications for biological control

Kuusk, Anna-Karin; Ekbom, Barbara

doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2010.06.009

Cited by 71 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Previous feeding trials with Pardosa spiders, R. padi, and Collembola, conducted at the same temperatures and using the same primers as those used here, showed that aphid detection success over time for 50 % of the predators was 3.7 h and no springtail DNA could be detected after 24 h (Kuusk and Ekbom 2010). Although we cannot say that there is no significant difference in detection times for the two preys, the feeding trials indicate that the detection times are fairly close and adjustments would not change our conclusions.…”

Section: Assessments Of Natural Prey Abundancesmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…We used a similar method to assess prey availability modified for wolf spiders, 12 mini-sticky traps (10 9 5 cm 2 ) were randomly attached to the ground in each collection area. The catches represented a cumulative record of prey over 24 h starting in the afternoon 1 day prior to the collection of predators and ending when the capture session terminated (for more details about the traps see Kuusk and Ekbom 2010). Captured arthropods were identified to the following taxa: Aphidoidea, Collembola, Diptera, Cicadoidea, Thysanoptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Araneae, and others.…”

Section: Assessments Of Natural Prey Abundancesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Under certain conditions, they have the potential to maintain pest populations below economic thresholds and thus provide an important ecosystem service to the agricultural sector acting as biological control agents (Chiverton 1986;Ö stman et al 2001. In addition to specific pests, generalist predators may consume alternative food items including other herbivores, decomposers such as earthworms and Collembola (Juen and Traugott 2007; King et al 2010;Kuusk and Ekbom 2010), Dipterans (Harwood et al 2007), and other natural enemies (Harwood et al 2009). By comparing rates of predation derived from molecular gut-content assays with the observed proportion of the target prey in the field, the hypothesis that generalist predators are capturing prey at random can be tested.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Previously, we studied the foraging behavior of generalist spider predators from the genus Pardosa (Araneae: Lycosidae) in farmer's fields in central Sweden by combining DNA-based gut-content analysis and concurrent monitoring of prey availability Kuusk and Ekbom 2010). Pardosa spiders are common groundliving predators in European agricultural habitats (Samu and Szinetár 2002;Schmidt et al 2005;Ö berg et al 2007), they have good eyesight and some species are viewed as active hunters that localize their prey by visual cues (Foelix 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Feeding habits of lycosid spiders in field habitats

Kuusk

Ekbom

2012

J Pest Sci

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Generalist arthropod predators are potential drivers of population dynamics in a wide variety of ecosystems but their feeding habits are often difficult to reveal as they are small, mobile, and live among dense vegetation or in soils. DNA-based gut-content analysis is a powerful tool that enables studies on arthropod predator-prey interactions. We studied lycosid spiders (Pardosa spp.) in agroecosystems to see if they consumed cereal aphids (Rhopalosiphum padi) and Collembolans at random, i.e., in proportion to their abundance in the field. We also tested if consumption of the target prey items was affected by the presence of alternative food. Spiders were captured in farmers' fields and their gut-contents screened by PCR with R. padi and Collembola primers. On all sampling occasions, concurrent assessments of total prey availability were carried out. Spider predation rates on R. padi always exceeded 50 %. Spiders also tested positive for Collembola but to a lower and more varying degree. In general, Pardosa did not consume R. padi and Collembolans in relation to their abundance in the field. Aphid predation was much higher than expected whereas consumption of Collembolans was considerably lower. The presence of alternative prey influenced consumption of the aphid. It was concluded that prey consumption by Pardosa spiders generally cannot be assumed to simply mirror prey availability. The spatial distribution of the target prey needs to be considered as well as the abundance, composition, and nutritional content of potential alternative food items.

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Section: Assessments Of Natural Prey Abundancesmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Assessments Of Natural Prey Abundancesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Feeding habits of lycosid spiders in field habitats

Kuusk

Ekbom

2012

J Pest Sci

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“…Recently it was shown by detecting their DNA that Pardosa spp. feed on Collembola (Kuusk & Ekbom, 2010) and pollen beetle larvae (Öberg et al, 2011). Therefore, a knowledge of the factors favourable for Pardosa species is necessary in order to sustain viable populations that can potentially reduce pest populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape structure affects activity density, body size and fecundity of Pardosa wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae) in winter oilseed rape

Drapela¹,

Frank²,

Heer³

et al. 2011

Eur. J. Entomol.

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Abstract. In large parts of Europe Pardosa spp. (Lycosidae) are among the most abundant wolf spiders in arable fields and potentially important natural control agents of pests. We studied the influence of landscape factors on activity density, adult body size and fecundity of P. agrestis in 29 winter oilseed rape fields (Brassica napus L.) in Eastern Austria using pitfall traps. Landscape data were obtained for eight circular landscape sections around each field (radii 250-2000 m). Multivariate regression models were used to analyze the data. Activity density was highest when the length of strips of grassy road-sides in the surroundings was highest and distance to the next grassy fallow lowest. Body size was negatively related to activity density and to the length of road-side strips and positively to woody areas in the vicinity of the fields. Clutch size was unrelated to any of the landscape factors tested but was positively correlated with female body size. Woody areas and grassy fallow in the close vicinity of the fields had a positive influence on number of offspring per female and total number of offspring. These results indicate that various non-crop components in the landscape surrounding oilseed rape fields can specifically influence the activity density and fitness-related traits of P. agrestis in crops. The possible role of Pardosa spp. in natural pest control is discussed.

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The Molecular Revolution: Using Polymerase Chain Reaction based Methods to Explore the Role of Predators in Terrestrial Food Webs

Symondson

2012

Biodiversity and Insect Pests

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Lycosid spiders and alternative food: Feeding behavior and implications for biological control

Cited by 71 publications

References 53 publications

Feeding habits of lycosid spiders in field habitats

Feeding habits of lycosid spiders in field habitats

Landscape structure affects activity density, body size and fecundity of Pardosa wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae) in winter oilseed rape

The Molecular Revolution: Using Polymerase Chain Reaction based Methods to Explore the Role of Predators in Terrestrial Food Webs

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