Behavioral Ecology Vol. 15 No. 2: 321-326
Behavioral Ecology vol. 15 no. 2 © International Society for Behavioral Ecology 2004; all rights reserved
Exploitation of floral signals by crab spiders (Thomisus spectabilis, Thomisidae)
a Institute of Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria b Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde 2109, NSW, Australia c Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde 2109, NSW, Australia
Address correspondence to A. M. Heiling, who is now at the Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde 2109, NSW, Australia. E-mail: astrid.heiling{at}univie.ac.at.
Flowers exhibit characteristics through which they exploit the sensory biases of pollinating insects, and both signaler and receiver benefit from this interaction, either through reproductive service or food reward. However, the preferences of pollinators for certain flower traits such as color or odor might be exploited by predators that target pollinating insects. Crab spiders, Thomisus spectabilis, position themselves on flowers to prey on pollinators such as honeybees, Apis mellifera. We gave both honeybees and crab spiders the choice between two randomly chosen white Chrysanthemum frutescens, including olfactory signals in one experiment and excluding odor in a second experiment. When olfactory signals were included, crab spiders and honeybees clearly preferred the same flower out of a pair. However, agreement level was at chance in the absence of olfactory signals. We also analyzed the visual flower characteristics that might influence the decision of the animals. Neither the size of flowers (diameter of flower and diameter of reproductive flower center) nor the reflectance properties (receptor excitation values in ultraviolet, blue, and green; overall brightness) influenced the choices of crab spiders and honeybees. Therefore, odor seems to be the floral signal that bees use to identify high-quality flowers and that crab spiders exploit to encounter honeybees.
Key words: Apis mellifera, communication, crab spider, floral signal, honeybee, signal exploitation.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  C.-C. Chiao, W.-Y. Wu, S.-H. Chen, and E.-C. Yang Visualization of the spatial and spectral signals of orb-weaving spiders, Nephila pilipes, through the eyes of a honeybee J. Exp. Biol., July 15, 2009; 212(14): 2269 - 2278. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. M. Heiling, K. Cheng, L. Chittka, A. Goeth, and M. E. Herberstein The role of UV in crab spider signals: effects on perception by prey and predators J. Exp. Biol., October 15, 2005; 208(20): 3925 - 3931. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. M. Heiling, L. Chittka, K. Cheng, and M. E. Herberstein Colouration in crab spiders: substrate choice and prey attraction J. Exp. Biol., May 15, 2005; 208(10): 1785 - 1792. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|