Eur. J. Entomol. 95 (3): 367-371, 1998
Does mesh height influence prey length in orb-web spiders (Araneae)?
- N/A
The relationship between web design and prey capture in orb-web spiders was examined by correlating the mean mesh height with the mean prey length per species taken from existing literature (15 species) and new data (Larinioides sclopetarius and Argiope keyserlingi). Pooling the data from all species, the results revealed no significant relationship. Analysing the data from L. sclopetarius and A. keyserlingi separately, no overall significant relationship was found. However, the analyses of the separate observation days showed that mesh height correlated significantly with prey length on one of the five observation days for A. keyserlingi, but not for L. sclopetarius. Consequently, the spacing of the sticky spiral in the orb-web can have a significant effect on the length of the captured prey under certain circumstances, which are discussed in the present paper.
Keywords: Araneae, Argiope keyserlingi, Larinioides sclopetarius, mesh height, prey length, web design, orb web
Accepted: November 28, 1997; Published: September 25, 1998 Show citation
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