22 Cribellar threads are powerful tools for web spiders to catch and retain prey. Spiders encountering 23 such threads, like cribellar web spiders or araneophagic spiders invading cribellar webs, should have a 24 protective mechanism against the adhesion of these threads. We tested for an anti-adhesive surface 25 coating in the web invader Pholcus phalangioides and the cribellate orb weaver Uloborus plumipes. 26 We calculated an index of adhesion for differently treated legs of the two species in a cribellar U. 27 plumipes capture thread, i.e. untreated legs, water-washed legs, and legs washed with the organic 28 solvent n-hexane. The results show that legs of P. phalangioides stick significantly stronger when 29 washed with n-hexane. Our interpretation is that P. phalangioides has an organic surface coating 30 lowering the adhesive force of the cribellar thread. No such mechanism was found in U. plumipes.
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