An alternative host of Hymenoepimecis japi (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) on a novel family (Araneae, Araneidae), with notes on behavioral manipulations

Abstract

Polysphinctine wasps of the genus Hymenoepimecis act as koinobiont ectoparasitoids of orb-weaver spiders. Hymenoepimecis japi is already known to parasitize the tetragnathid spider Leucauge roseosignata. Here, we record the dome-weaver spider Mecynogea biggiba as a second host for H. japi, as well as the behavioral manipulations induced by the parasitoid. We found that H. japi alters the web construction behavior of M. biggiba, resulting in a complex three-dimensional cocoon web. This modified web differs from that of L. roseosignata, which is a simpler structure composed of a few support threads. Our finds add to the literature the first case of a Hymenoepimecis species parasitizing spiders of two distinct families.

One generalist or several specialist species? Wide host range and diverse manipulations of the hosts’ web‐building behaviour in the true spider parasitoidZatypota kauros(Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

“…All web‐building manipulations that have been recorded so far in other species of the Polysphincta genus‐group have been found to be species‐specific, with each wasp species typically causing one particular alteration in the web architecture of its host (e.g. Korenko & Pekár, ; Korenko et al ., , ,b, ; Sobczak et al ., ; Messas et al ., ), even though one spider species is sometimes attacked by several parasitoid wasp species (Gonzaga et al ., ; Eberhard, ). The high plasticity in both host range and host manipulation in Z. kauros is unusual and might indicate a complex of several, more specialised cryptic species.…”

“…In all the species for which sufficient data are available, the hosts always belong strictly to a single family (Fitton et al ., ; Korenko et al ., ). The only exception is the recently studied Hymenoepimecis japi Loffredo & Penteado‐Dias, which is associated with orb‐web‐building spiders from two families (Araneidae and Tetragnathidae) (Messas et al ., ).…”

“…Fitton et al ., ; Matsumoto, ) and exhibit a unique mode of host utilisation, including complex behavioural repertoires (e.g. Eberhard, ; Matsumoto, ; Messas et al ., ; Takasuka et al ., ; Korenko et al ., ). Behavioural adaptations such as host manipulation probably evolved through intimate interaction with the host behaviour and presumably resulted in the restricted host ranges and high specificity of mutual interaction between parasitoids and their spider hosts.…”