Are brown recluse spiders, Loxosceles reclusa (Araneae, Sicariidae) scavengers? The influence of predator satiation, prey size, and prey quality

Cramer, Kenneth L.

doi:10.1636/st06-27.1

Cited by 21 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…This interpretation is supported by general theory on predator–prey body mass relationships, suggesting that small predators have narrow diets while large predators feed on a wide range of prey and occupy higher trophic levels ( Woodward & Hildrew 2002 ). On the other hand, carabid and harvestmen are known to readily feed on dead prey ( Morse 2001 ; Foltan et al 2005 ) and spiders can also be scavengers, particularly if the prey has not been dead for too long ( Cramer 2008 ; Von Berg et al 2012 ). This means that smaller predators are able to feed on larger prey, relaxing the size relationships in predator–prey interactions to some extent.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intraguild predation in pioneer predator communities of alpine glacier forelands

et al. 2014

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Pioneer communities establishing themselves in the barren terrain in front of glacier forelands consist principally of predator species such as carabid beetles and lycosid spiders. The fact that so many different predators can co-inhabit an area with no apparent primary production was initially explained by allochthonous material deposited in these forelands. However, whether these populations can be sustained on allochthonous material alone is questionable and recent studies point towards this assumption to be flawed. Intraguild predation (IGP) might play an important role in these pioneer predator assemblages, especially in the very early successional stages where other prey is scarce. Here, we investigated IGP between the main predator species and their consumption of Collembola, an important autochthonous alternative prey, within a glacier foreland in the Ötztal (Austrian Alps). Multiplex PCR and stable isotope analysis were used to characterize the trophic niches in an early and late pioneer stage over 2 years. Results showed that intraguild prey was consumed by all invertebrate predators, particularly the larger carabid species. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, the DNA detection frequency of IGP prey was not significantly higher in early than in late pioneer stage, which was corroborated by the stable isotope analysis. Collembola were the most frequently detected prey in all of the predators, and the overall prey DNA detection patterns were consistent between years. Our findings show that IGP appears as a constant in these pioneer predator communities and that it remains unaffected by successional changes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intraguild predation in pioneer predator communities of alpine glacier forelands

et al. 2014

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“…It was also postulated that scavenging behavior was a somewhat unique behavior exhibited by recluse spiders. However, subsequent research showed that by manipulating factors such as prey size and degree of starvation, brown recluses preferred live prey (Cramer 2008) and that scavenging was a behaviorally plastic activity exhibited by a wide range of spiders, not just recluses (Vetter 2011b). In a study of free-living brown recluses in an Illinois garage, observations showed that scavenging was not a common activity because the recluses were predominantly sedentary even at night, rarely moving far from their retreats to forage for prey, preferring to sit and wait for prey to blunder into their silk (Cramer 2015).…”

Section: Scavenging Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrated Pest Management of the Brown Recluse Spider

Vetter

Hedges²

2018

Journal of Integrated Pest Management

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The brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa (Gertsch and Mulaik; Araneae: Sicariidae), was first determined to be medically important in North America in 1957. Since that time, its infamous reputation has spread far beyond its actual distribution, such that in areas in North America where the brown recluse is not known to exist, doctors diagnose a multitude of non-spider related skin lesions as recluse bites and home owners misidentify harmless spiders as recluses. In indigenous areas, this synanthropic spider can generate extensive populations within homes and work buildings where interaction with humans in the form of potential envenomations and anxiety-filled paranoia is heightened. Additionally, the brown recluse can be a valid real-world concern in the real estate housing business as well as spawning litigation. Reduction and control of brown recluses in homes and businesses is of importance for those who have proven populations of the spider. In this article, we review biology and life history of the brown recluse spider as it relates to pest management as well as control measures as they pertain to an IPM strategy for this urban arachnid.

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“…One publication [125] states that L. reclusa is a scavenger, and exhibits a clear preference for dead prey over live prey. However, a more detailed study [126] suggests that scavenging is an opportunistic behavior in recluses that requires specific circumstances that may rarely occur in nature. In natural habitats, Loxosceles spiders can be found under rocks and the loose bark of dead trees; L. intermedia might be an exception, as it is almost impossible to find in these microhabitats, far form urban areas.…”

Section: Wwwintechopencommentioning

confidence: 99%