Diurnal and nocturnal prey luring of a colorful predator

Abstract

SUMMARY While animal color signaling has been studied for decades, we have little knowledge of the role conspicuous body coloration plays in the nocturnal context. In this study we explored animal color signaling in both diurnal and nocturnal contexts to arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of its function. We quantified how the brightly colored giant wood spiders Nephila pilipes are viewed by nocturnal insects, and performed field manipulations to assess the function of a spider's coloration in both diurnal and nocturnal conditions. Seen through the eyes of moths, the conspicuous body parts of spiders are quite distinctive from the vegetation background. The presence of N. pilipes significantly increased the diurnal as well as the nocturnal prey interception rates of their webs, but these rates were significantly reduced when the conspicuous color signals of N. pilipes were altered by black paint. A comparison of the diurnal and nocturnal hunting performances of spiders showed that their conspicuous coloration had a higher luring effect under dim light conditions. These results demonstrate that the conspicuous body coloration of N. pilipes functions as a visual lure to attract both diurnal and nocturnal prey. It seems that nocturnal insects are the major target of this colorful sit-and-wait predator. We suggest that the selection pressure to effectively exploit the color vision of nocturnal prey could be one of the major forces driving the evolution of spider coloration.

A dual function of white coloration in a nocturnal spider Dolomedes raptor (Araneae: Pisauridae)

“…Conspicuous body coloration has recently been reported to function as a prey lure in nocturnal web-building spiders, such as N. pilipes (Chuang et al, 2007) and N. punctigera (Blamires et al, 2012). In these spiders, coloration can apparently increase foraging success (i.e.…”

“…For example, the brightly colored body parts of the giant wood spider, Nephila pilipes, have been shown to function as a visual lure for attracting both diurnal and nocturnal prey (Chuang, Yang, & Tso, 2007). The conspicuous yellow ventral spots in the garden spider, Neoscona punctigera, can also lure prey at night (Blamires et al, 2012).…”

Visualization of the spatial and spectral signals of orb-weaving spiders, Nephila pilipes, through the eyes of a honeybee

“…However, recent behavioral experiments in orbweaving spiders (N. pilipes), orchid spiders (Leucauge magnifica), nocturnal orb spiders (Neoscona punctigera) and wasp spiders (Argiope bruennichi) showed that the prey capture rate was significantly lower if the color markings were blocked or if the spider was removed from the web (Bush et al, 2008;Chuang et al, 2007;Chuang et al, 2008;Tso et al, 2006). Thus, it is most likely that the bright body colorations of these spiders function as visual lures to attract insects, although some opposite evidences exist (Hoese et al, 2006;Václav and Prokop, 2006).…”

“…Similarly, the colorful orbweaving spiders (Nephila pilipes) in Taiwan also have been reported to catch significantly more prey than its melanic conspecific (Tso et al, 2002;Tso et al, 2004). In addition, several diurnal as well as nocturnal species of spiders have been demonstrated to significantly reduce their foraging success if their color markings were experimentally altered (Bush et al, 2008;Chuang et al, 2007;Chuang et al, 2008;Hauber, 2002;Tso et al, 2007;Tso et al, 2002;Tso et al, 2006). All this evidence indicates that the conspicuous body coloration in spiders is to lure their prey (see Vanderhoff et al, 2008).…”

A nocturnal cursorial predator attracts flying prey with a visual lure

“…But there is growing evidence that various nocturnal trap-building predators can visually attract insects at night by conspicuous signals on their body. For example, the conspicuous body parts of the giant wood spider, Nephila pilipes (Chuang, Yang, & Tso, 2007), orchid spider, Leucauge magnifica (Tso, Huang, & Liao, 2007) and the garden spider, Neoscona punctigera (Blamires et al, 2012;Chuang, Yang, & Tso, 2008) have been shown to function as visual lures for nocturnal prey.…”