Seasonal population dynamics of a specialized termite-eating spider (Araneae: Ammoxenidae) and its prey (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae)

Haddad, Charles R.; Brabec, Marek; Pekár, Stano; Fourie, René

doi:10.1016/j.pedobi.2016.03.003

Cited by 12 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 27 publications

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“…Harvester termites forage mainly on grass, leaves, fine twigs and organic litter in the field outside their nests and are thus exposed to terrestrial predators. Among these predators are Ammoxenus spiders, invariably found near termite tunnel portals (Wilson and Clark 1977;Dippenaar and Meyer 1980;Dean 1988;van den Berg and Dippenaar-Schoeman 1991;Dippenaar-Schoeman et al 1996a, b;Dippenaar-Schoeman and Harris 2005;Petrakova et al 2015;Haddad et al 2016). During prey capture, the spider grabs a termite, immobilises it by biting between its head capsule and the thorax, and drags the termite into the soil where the spider starts feeding (Dippenaar-Schoeman et al 1996a, b;Dippenaar-Schoeman and Harris 2005;Petrakova et al 2015).…”

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Coexistence of Ammoxenus (Gnaphosidae) spider species on and between termitaria of Microhodotermes viator (Hodotermitidae) at a Karoo site

Henschel,

Dean,

Milton

et al. 2023

Afr. Entomol.

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Previous studies of some species of Ammoxenus spiders demonstrated them to be monophagous predators of certain termites. Upon observing Ammoxenus spiders preying on the hodotermitid, Microhodotermes viator, we examined the distribution of spiders on or off termitaria (termed heuweltjies) at the Tierberg-LTER study site in the Karoo using pitfall traps deployed monthly over two years. Four species of Ammoxenus were found, but only one, Ammoxenus pentheri, has been described, the other three being new to science. Their coexistence prompts questions concerning niche partitioning among several specialist predators. Our initial study revealed that Ammoxenus and other ground spiders were more abundant on heuweltjies than in the matrix between heuweltjies. The different Ammoxenus species appeared to be disparately associated or disassociated with heuweltjies and had different phenologies. This case of niche partitioning among specialist predators warrants further study.

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confidence: 99%