Can't even trust the family? The web of the unusual web-building wolf spider Aglaoctenus lagotis (Araneae: Lycosidae) invaded by typical wandering wolf spiders

Abstract

Spider webs can be invaded by other species of spiders. While the majority involve spiders that build webs of their own, there are reports of wandering spiders invading webs. Most wolf spiders (Lycosidae) do not build webs and web invasion behaviour has never been reported in this family. Here, we report wandering wolf spiders invading webs of Aglaoctenus lagotis, one of the few wolf spiders that build webs. We collected observations of ten web invasions by the wandering species Lycosa erythrognatha, L. poliostoma, and Schizocosa malitiosa. We discuss the possible implications of these invasions for moulting and speculate that the webs are safe refuges.