Notes on spider (Theridiidae, Salticidae) predation of the harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex salinus Olsen (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae), and a possible parasitoid fly (Chloropidae)

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1992 · Great Basin Naturalist; (United States)

OSTI ID:6944211

Clark, W H ^[1]; Blom, P E ^[2]

---

1. Albertson College of Idaho, Caldwell (United States) Univ. of Idaho, Moscow (United States)
2. Univ. of Idaho, Moscow (United States)

Spiders are known predators of ants. Pressure exerted by consistent spider predation can alter the behavior of ant colonies (MacKay 1982) and may be a selective pressure contributing to the seed-harvesting behavior of Pogonomyrmex (MacKay and MacKay 1984). The authors observed the spider Euryopis formosa Banks (Araneae: Theridiidae) capture and transport workers of the harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex salinus Olsen [Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Myrmicinae]) in southeastern Idaho. Additional observations revealed a crab spider of the genus Xysticus preying on P. salinus and the presence of a chloropid fly (Incertella) that may have been parasitizing the moribund prey subdued by the spider.

• OSTI ID: 6944211
• Journal Information: Great Basin Naturalist; (United States), Vol. 52:4; ISSN 0017-3614
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
PREDATOR-PREY INTERACTIONS
ANTS
BEHAVIOR
PARASITES
SPIDERS
ANIMALS
ARACHNIDS
ARTHROPODS
HYMENOPTERA
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
550100* - Behavioral Biology