First report of predation on floral visitors by crab spiders on Croton selowii Baill. (Euphorbiaceae)

Reinaldo Rodrigo Novo,Cibele Cardoso De Castro,Jefferson Thiago Souza

doi:10.1590/s0102-33062010000200029

Reinaldo Rodrigo Novo, Cibele Cardoso De Castro + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-33062010000200029

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Abstract

In the literature it has been extensively mentioned that crab spiders (Araneae: Thomisidae) prey on floral visitors of several plant species. Here we present observations of Croton selowii Baill. (Euphorbiaceae), a monoecious species harboring individuals of crab spiders in an area of coastal vegetation of Pernambuco state, Brazil. The species is visited by several invertebrate orders, and some of them were preyed upon by the spiders, mainly Diptera species. The spiders rubbed the forelimbs within the flowers, which may constitute a strategy to camouflage these structures. Croton selowii seems to represent a suitable foraging site for the spiders, because it has a generalist pollination system (thus being visited by a wide range of invertebrate species) and blooms in a period of low flower resource availability in the area.

Highlights

The crab spiders (Araneae: Thomisidae) prey on floral visitors and present the sit-and-wait strategy: they remain camouflaged in the inflorescences waiting for invertebrates (Dukas & Morse 2003; Robertson & Maguire 2005)
Other studies discuss the beneficial effects of these flower-dwelling spiders on their host plant, such as predation on phytophagous herbivores, which can has a positive influence on seed production (Romero & Vasconcellos-Neto 2004)
A total of 31 individuals (69%) harbored individuals of Misumenoides cf. paucispinosus, Misumenops pallens (Keyserling 1880) and/or Misumenops sp. (Araneae: Thomisidae), which prey on floral visitors, mainly on flies

Summary

Introduction

The crab spiders (Araneae: Thomisidae) prey on floral visitors and present the sit-and-wait strategy: they remain camouflaged in the inflorescences waiting for invertebrates (Dukas & Morse 2003; Robertson & Maguire 2005). There is evidence that the presence of crab-spiders can reduce flower visitation rates (Suttle 2003; Reader et al 2006), and diminish pollinator density, causing a negative impact on plant reproductive success (Dukas & Morse 2003; Gonçalves-Souza et al 2008).

Results

Conclusion