| Assassin bug uses aggressive mimicry to lure spider prey. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20980305 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Assassin bugs (Stenolemus bituberus) hunt web-building spiders by invading the web and plucking the silk to generate vibrations that lure the resident spider into striking range. To test whether vibrations generated by bugs aggressively mimic the vibrations generated by insect prey, we compared the responses of spiders to bugs with how they responded to prey, courting male spiders and leaves falling into the web. We also analysed the associated vibrations. Similar spider orientation and approach behaviours were observed in response to vibrations from bugs and prey, whereas different behaviours were observed in response to vibrations from male spiders and leaves. Peak frequency and duration of vibrations generated by bugs were similar to those generated by prey and courting males. Further, vibrations from bugs had a temporal structure and amplitude that were similar to vibrations generated by leg and body movements of prey and distinctly different to vibrations from courting males or leaves, or prey beating their wings. To be an effective predator, bugs do not need to mimic the full range of prey vibrations. Instead bugs are general mimics of a subset of prey vibrations that fall within the range of vibrations classified by spiders as 'prey'. |
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Authors:
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Anne E Wignall; Phillip W Taylor |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Date: 2010-10-27 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society Volume: 278 ISSN: 1471-2954 ISO Abbreviation: Proc. Biol. Sci. Publication Date: 2011 May |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2011-03-24 Completed Date: 2011-08-01 Revised Date: 2012-05-08 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 101245157 Medline TA: Proc Biol Sci Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 1427-33 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, Australia. anne.wignall@mq.edu.au |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Aggression Animal Communication Animals Female Food Chain* Male Predatory Behavior* Reduviidae / physiology* Spiders / physiology* Vibration |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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