photos 1–1000
Euryopis episinoides, 6 d.o. ♂ spiderling in hunting position on a toothpick.
Parabiotic with Messor spp, Pheidole pallidula, Tapinoma magnum.
[Euryopis Menge 1868: 75 (IT: 8) spp]
E. episinoides is a tiny Theridiidæ occurring in southern Europe. It builds a small retreat made of few strands of silk under rocks or any flat object. This species was found to catch only ants in nature, particularly of the genus Messor. It hunts prey on the ground without the use of web. The spider positions itself near an ant trail with its prosoma on the ground and its abdomen and a pair of hind-legs outstretched and raised in the air and waits until a prey passes by. It catches prey by throwing strands of silk drawn from spinnerets. In the laboratory, the spiders were able to catch few prey types, including flies. Adaptive significance of food imprinting and associated learning may differ between specialists and generalists. Associated learning may be more important than food imprinting for generalist species, as they need to consume a wide variety of prey types in order to balance their nutrient intake. It is also advantageous in a changing environment where different types of prey co-occur. Food imprinting, on the other hand, should be important for specialists as they need to consume only one or a few closely related prey (e.g. ants) which shows rather stable occurrence. Food imprinting should allow actively searching specialised predators to optimise their foraging behaviour and to focus on cues of their focal prey.
REFERENCES
Euryopis episinoides, 6 d.o. ♂ spiderling in hunting position on a toothpick.
Parabiotic with Messor spp, Pheidole pallidula, Tapinoma magnum.
[Euryopis Menge 1868: 75 (IT: 8) spp]
E. episinoides is a tiny Theridiidæ occurring in southern Europe. It builds a small retreat made of few strands of silk under rocks or any flat object. This species was found to catch only ants in nature, particularly of the genus Messor. It hunts prey on the ground without the use of web. The spider positions itself near an ant trail with its prosoma on the ground and its abdomen and a pair of hind-legs outstretched and raised in the air and waits until a prey passes by. It catches prey by throwing strands of silk drawn from spinnerets. In the laboratory, the spiders were able to catch few prey types, including flies. Adaptive significance of food imprinting and associated learning may differ between specialists and generalists. Associated learning may be more important than food imprinting for generalist species, as they need to consume a wide variety of prey types in order to balance their nutrient intake. It is also advantageous in a changing environment where different types of prey co-occur. Food imprinting, on the other hand, should be important for specialists as they need to consume only one or a few closely related prey (e.g. ants) which shows rather stable occurrence. Food imprinting should allow actively searching specialised predators to optimise their foraging behaviour and to focus on cues of their focal prey.
REFERENCES