Spider mite web mediates anti-predator behaviour |
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Authors: | Felipe Lemos Renato Almeida Sarmento Angelo Pallini Cleide Rosa Dias Maurice W Sabelis Arne Janssen |
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Institution: | 1.Department of Animal Biology, Section Entomology,Federal University of Vi?osa,Vi?osa,Brazil;2.Department of Plant Science, Research Group: Biological Control of Pests,Federal University of Tocantins,Gurupi,Brazil;3.IBED, Section Population Biology,University of Amsterdam,Amsterdam,The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | Herbivores suffer significant mortality from predation and are therefore subject to natural selection on traits promoting
predator avoidance and resistance. They can employ an array of strategies to reduce predation, for example through changes
in behaviour, morphology and life history. So far, the anti-predator response studied most intensively in spider mites has
been the avoidance of patches with high predation risk. Less attention has been given to the dense web produced by spider
mites, which is a complex structure of silken threads that is thought to hinder predators. Here, we investigate the effects
of the web produced by the red spider mite, Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard, on its interactions with the predatory mite, Phytoseiulus longipes Evans. We tested whether female spider mites recognize predator cues and whether these can induce the spider mites to produce
denser web. We found that the prey did not produce denser web in response to such cues, but laid more eggs suspended in the
web, away from the leaf surface. These suspended eggs suffered less from predation by P. longipes than eggs that were laid on the leaf surface under the web. Thus, by altering their oviposition behaviour in response to
predator cues, females of T. evansi protect their offspring. |
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