The effects of temperature on the web‐building behaviour of the common house spider, Achaearanea tepidariorum

Abstract

Summary 1.Because spiders are ectothermic animals, the temperature regime of the microhabitat in which an individual finds itself may affect important performance traits of that individual. The present study examined the effects of temperature on attributes of webs spun by Achaearanea tepidariorum (C. L. Koch), as well as testing temperature preference in this species. The effects of temperature on the amount of silk per web produced by Achaearanea tepidariorum and the prey-capture efficiency of webs produced at different temperatures were determined by using webs constructed at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30°C. The temperature preferences of A. tepidariorum within a thermal gradient were also determined. 2. Web mass was related to temperature, exhibiting a quadratic relation with a maximum web mass occurring at approximately 20°C. 3. Number of strands per cm 3 of webs varied directly with web mass; webs with greater strand densities were more efficient at capturing flies. 4. The number of spiders observed in each temperature range in the thermal gradient indicated a non-uniform distribution, with the spiders avoiding temperatures in the highest range (27·3 ± 2·0°C). 5. These data suggest an optimal temperature for web construction at which webs produced are more efficient at capturing prey. The data also suggest that this species may avoid sites that do not provide an adequate thermal environment.

A simulation-based method to compare the pest suppression potential of predators: A case study with spiders

“…In fact, the dependency of spider webs on environmental and physiological conditions is not exclusive of orb-weavers. Barghusen et al (1997) suggested that Achaearanea tepidariorum C.L. Koch (Araneae: Theridiidae), an aerial space web builder (Uetz et al, 1999) optimizes web construction by temperature selection and found an optimal experimental temperature at 20°C at which the spiders produced the heaviest webs and prey capture should be maximized.…”

Wrap attack of the spider Achaearanea tepidariorum (Araneae: Theridiidae) by preying on mealybugs Planococcus citri (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae)

“…The use of webs for foraging and the role that trapping threads play in catching prey have been described several times (see, e.g., Nielsen 1932;Szlep 1965;Foelix 1996;Barghusen et al 1997;Griswold et al 1998). Szlep (1965) has found that A. tepidariorum spin webs that closely resemble those of the Mediterranean Black Widow spider Latrodectus tredecimguttatus (Rossi).…”

“…The authors of the present paper regard this phase of wrap attack, in which the prey is not rotated as it is wrapped, as a continuation of immobilization wrapping described above. A. tepidariorum is known for capturing crawling prey when the prey encounters the viscid vertical capture threads of the web (Barghusen et al 1997). Like other theridiids, it also hunts prey, which breaks trapping threads with its own movement and is subsequently catapulted into the air or, more exactly, into the web, where both immobilization wrapping and the first contact between the spider and the prey occur.…”

The role of experience in web-building spiders (Araneidae)

“…A. keyserlingi occurs along the east coast of Australia and is commonly found in urban habitats such as gardens and parks. As abiotic factors such as wind, temperature and relative humidity may influence web design in spiders (Barghusen et al 1997;Vollrath et al 1997) both experiments were performed under controlled laboratory conditions.…”