Crab spiders (Thomisidae) attract insect flower‐visitors withoutUVsignalling

Abstract

1. Crab spiders (Thomisidae) indirectly affect insect flower‐visitor and flowering plant interactions by consuming and altering the behaviour of insects.2. Although one expects insect flower‐visitors to avoid crab spiders actively, some crab spider species are known to attract flower‐visitors. Crab spiders may useUVsignalling to lure potential prey to the flowers they occupy.3. In the present study, a field experiment was conducted to examine the effects of crab spiders occupying three prairie plant species for the insect flower‐visitor community. Pollinating insects were significantly attracted to inflorescences with crab spiders compared to inflorescences without crab spiders for two plant species, and herbivorous insects were attracted to inflorescences with crab spiders for one of these plant species. The two flowering plant species with increased pollinator visitation showed increased seed weights for plants with crab spiders, indicating crab spider presence indirectly increased pollination.4. To test theUVsignalling hypothesis, inflorescences with crab spiders of one plant species were observed under both aUV‐blocking plastic and a clear plastic control. Contrary to our prediction, flower‐visitors were not more likely to land on inflorescences under the clear plastic; theUVsignalling hypothesis was not supported. Other unknown explanations underlie prey attraction to inflorescences with crab spiders.