Observations of the insect Arachnocoris trinitatus (Heteroptera: Nabidae) as an inquiline in the webs of the spider Mesabolivar aurantiacus (Araneae: Pholcidae)
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Date
2008
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Caribbean Journal of Science
Abstract
—The pholcid spider Mesabolivar aurantiacus (Mello-Leitão 1930) is common in forests of
Trinidad, West Indies. Its webs are often found to
contain the nabid bug Arachnocoris trinitatis (Bergroth 1916). In a lowland forest in August-September
2003 (wet season) we censused 81 M. aurantiacus
webs for occupancy by the spider and the insect. A.
trinitatis showed no significant preference for webs
occupied by either juvenile or adult spiders. However, it showed a preference for empty webs, suggesting that it utilizes these as a ready-made preycapture device, and possibly as a site for finding
mates.
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Keywords
—Arachnocoris trinitatis, Nabidae, Mesabolivar aurantiacus, Pholcidae, predation, symbiosis