Population variation of web-invading spiders (Theridiidae: Argyrodes spp.) on host webs in Guam, Mariana Islands, Micronesia

Abstract

Most Argyrodes spiders live in the webs of other spiders as kleptoparasites, stealing food from the host and scavenging small prey from the web. We observed three species of Argyrodes from the Micronesian island of Guam to learn (1) if Argyrodes species differ in their use of host-species webs, (2) whether some Argyrodes species occur more often in certain habitats, (3) whether population size of Argyrodes is a function of web size, and (4) how the presence of congeners affects population size on a web. Argyrodes lived most often in the large, long-lasting orb webs of Argiope appensa and Cyrtophora mollucensis, and, rarely, in the smaller, less durable orb webs of Neoscona spp. and Leucauge spp. Argyrodes argentatus and Argyrodes sp. A frequently co-occurred in Argiope webs, but A. argentatus was more common in beach strand and open disturbed habitats, while Argyrodes sp. A was more common in shaded native forest. The abundances of A. argentatus and Argyrodes sp. A in Argiope webs and the abundance of Argyrodes sp. B in Cyrtophora webs were positively correlated with the areas of the webs' prey-catching surfaces. The abundance of A. argentatus was inversely proportional to that of Argyrodes sp. A on Argiope webs and to that of Argyrodes sp. B on Cyrtophora webs, suggesting interspecific avoidance.