Nesting habits of the Japanese foliage spider,<i>Cheiracanthium japonicum</i>(Araneae: Miturgidae): host plant preference based on the physical traits of plant leaves

Hironaka, Yutaka; Abé, Hiroshi

doi:10.1080/00222933.2012.710044

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Spiders are often associated with vegetation [18], and microhabitat use seems to be primarily determined by differences in vegetation structure. This is manifested in use of different plant structures for activities such as foraging, mating and egg-laying, or functions such as shelter and/or protection for adults and immatures, and nurseries for the offspring [19][20][21][22][23][24]. Individuals may preferentially use specific structures of plants to capture prey (flowers, glandular trichomes) [25], obtain nutrients (nectar, pollen) [26][27][28], obtain protection from predators (thorns) [29] or from desiccation (leaves of bromeliad plants) [20], and to locate mates (flowers) [30].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host Plant Availability and Nest-Site Selection of the Social Spider Stegodyphus dumicola Pocock, 1898 (Eresidae)

Rose

Schramm

Irish

et al. 2021

Insects

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An animals’ habitat defines the resources that are available for its use, such as host plants or food sources, and the use of these resources are critical for optimizing fitness. Spiders are abundant in all terrestrial habitats and are often associated with vegetation, which may provide structure for anchoring capture webs, attract insect prey, or provide protective function. Social spiders construct sedentary communal silk nests on host plants, but we know little about whether and how they make nest-site decisions. We examined host plant use in relation to host plant availability in the social spider Stegodyphus dumicola Pocock, 1898 (Eresidae) across different arid biomes in Namibia and analysed the role of host plant characteristics (height, spines, scent, sturdiness) on nest occurrence. Host plant communities and densities differed between locations. Spider nests were relatively more abundant on Acacia spp., Boscia foetida, Combretum spp., Dichrostachys cinerea, Parkinsonia africana, Tarchonanthus camphoratus, and Ziziphus mucronatus, and nests survived longer on preferred plant genera Acacia, Boscia and Combretum. Spider nests were relatively more abundant on plants higher than 2 m, and on plants with thorns and with a rigid structure. Our results suggest that spiders display differential use of host plant species, and that characteristics such as rigidity and thorns confer benefits such as protection from browsing animals.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host Plant Availability and Nest-Site Selection of the Social Spider Stegodyphus dumicola Pocock, 1898 (Eresidae)

Rose

Schramm

Irish

et al. 2021

Insects

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“…Furthermore, ontogenetic variation should be integrated into the study of spider chemical ecology. For instance, plant specialisation in the Japanese foliage spider, Cheiracanthium japonicum , seems to develop with age, with juveniles and adults using different plant species in some cases [ 140 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host Plant Specificity in Web-Building Spiders

Hesselberg

Boyd

Styrsky

et al. 2023

Insects

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Spiders are ubiquitous generalist predators playing an important role in regulating insect populations in many ecosystems. Traditionally they have not been thought to have strong influences on, or interactions with plants. However, this is slowly changing as several species of cursorial spiders have been reported engaging in either herbivory or inhabiting only one, or a handful of related plant species. In this review paper, we focus on web-building spiders on which very little information is available. We only find well-documented evidence from studies of host plant specificity in orb spiders in the genus Eustala, which are associated with specific species of swollen thorn acacias. We review what little is known of this group in the context of spider–plant interactions generally, and focus on how these interactions are established and maintained while providing suggestions on how spiders may locate and identify specific species of plants. Finally, we suggest ideas for future fruitful research aimed at understanding how web-building spiders find and utilise specific plant hosts.

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“…Many arachnid species build nests to brood eggs and recently hatched young (harvestmen: Rojas et al., 2019; pseudoscorpions: Weygoldt, 1969; scorpions: Warburg, 2012; solifuges: Punzo, 1998; spiders: Yip & Rayor, 2014). Although nest‐site selection has been reported for some of these species, the proximate cues used by parental individuals to select where to build their nests and the adaptive meaning of nest‐site selection are still poorly understood (e.g., Hanna & Cobb, 2006; Hironaka & Abé, 2012; Morse, 1985). However, there are a few studies of spiders that explored in more detail how and why parental individuals select nest sites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nest‐site selection in a neotropical arachnid with exclusive male care: Proximate cues and adaptive meaning

et al. 2021

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Nest‐site selection is a crucial decision made by parents because inadequate sites may expose the offspring and the parent to harsh abiotic and biotic conditions. Although nest‐site selection has been reported for some species of arthropods, the proximate cues used by parents to select the nest site and the adaptive meaning of nest‐site selection are still poorly understood. We investigated nest‐site selection in the harvestman Quindina limbata, in which males build mud nests on the surface of fallen logs and perform parental care. This species inhabits tropical forests where rainfall destroys nearly 50% of the nests, representing an important selective force shaping nest‐site selection. We followed 139 nests and recorded the position (angle) where these nests were located on the fallen log surface. Males showed a complex pattern of nest‐site selection that responded to three proximate cues: the direct impact of raindrops on the upper half of the fallen log, the drag force caused by flowing water on the laterals of the fallen log, and water saturation on the lowest part of the fallen log. These selective pressures created a bimodal pattern of nest distribution on the lower half of the fallen logs. The peaks of this distribution occurred in places where nests are protected from the direct impact of raindrops, the drag force caused by flowing water is not high, and the risk of nest flooding is low. The possible adaptive meaning of nest‐site selection is to minimize the risk of nest destruction, which imposes energetic costs to males that need to build another nest. Nest‐site selection may also minimize reproductive costs because males with damaged nests show decreased attractiveness to females. Finally, nest‐site selection may increase offspring fitness minimizing the risk of egg mortality associated with nest destruction and anoxia when nests are flooded.

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Nesting habits of the Japanese foliage spider,Cheiracanthium japonicum(Araneae: Miturgidae): host plant preference based on the physical traits of plant leaves

Cited by 6 publications

References 19 publications

Host Plant Availability and Nest-Site Selection of the Social Spider Stegodyphus dumicola Pocock, 1898 (Eresidae)

Host Plant Availability and Nest-Site Selection of the Social Spider Stegodyphus dumicola Pocock, 1898 (Eresidae)

Host Plant Specificity in Web-Building Spiders

Nest‐site selection in a neotropical arachnid with exclusive male care: Proximate cues and adaptive meaning

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