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1 December 2007 Hunting Prey With Different Escape Potentials—Alternative Predatory Tactics In A Dune Dwelling Salticid
Maciej Bartos
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Generalist predators hunt a wide range of prey that possess various characteristics affecting the predators' hunting success (e.g., size, ability to detect the threat and defend against it, potential for escape). Therefore, it can be expected that the predator should flexibly react to different prey characteristics, hunting them in prey-specific ways. For a stalking predator a crucial prey feature is its ability to escape. In this study, the alternative prey-catching tactics of a dune-dwelling salticid Yllenus arenarius Menge 1868 were analyzed. Four naturally eaten prey taxa, two with a high ability to escape (Homoptera, Orthoptera) and two with a low ability to escape (Thysanoptera, larvae of Lepidoptera), were used. Numerous differences found between the tactics indicate that Y. arenarius can not only distinguish between different types of prey, but can also employ specific tactics to catch them. The tactics belong to a conditional strategy and are manifested in alternative: a) direction of approach, b) speed of approach, and c) other prey specific behaviors.

Maciej Bartos "Hunting Prey With Different Escape Potentials—Alternative Predatory Tactics In A Dune Dwelling Salticid," The Journal of Arachnology 35(3), 499-508, (1 December 2007). https://doi.org/10.1636/ST06-06.1
Received: 14 March 2007; Published: 1 December 2007
KEYWORDS
Araneae
conditional strategy
predatory behavior
Salticidae
spider
Yllenus
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