Fine-scale analysis of an assassin bug's behaviour: predatory strategies to bypass the sensory systems of prey
Some predators sidestep environments that render them conspicuous to the sensory systems of prey. However, these challenging environments are unavoidable for certain predators. Stenolemus giraffa is an assassin bug that feeds on web-building spiders; the web is the environment in which this predator...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Royal Society
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
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| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.160573 |
| _version_ | 1819111931261222912 |
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| author | Fernando G. Soley |
| author_facet | Fernando G. Soley |
| author_sort | Fernando G. Soley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Some predators sidestep environments that render them conspicuous to the sensory systems of prey. However, these challenging environments are unavoidable for certain predators. Stenolemus giraffa is an assassin bug that feeds on web-building spiders; the web is the environment in which this predator finds its prey, but it also forms part of its preys' sophisticated sensory apparatus, blurring the distinction between environment and sensory systems. Stenolemus giraffa needs to break threads in the web that obstruct its path to the spiders, and such vibrations can alert the spiders. Using laser vibrometry, this study demonstrates how S. giraffa avoids alerting the spiders during its approach. When breaking threads, S. giraffa attenuates the vibrations produced by holding on to the loose ends of the broken thread and causing them to sag prior to release. In addition, S. giraffa releases the loose ends of a broken thread one at a time (after several seconds or minutes) and in this way spaces out the production of vibrations in time. Furthermore, S. giraffa was found to maximally reduce the amplitude of vibrations when breaking threads that are prone to produce louder vibrations. Finally, S. giraffa preferred to break threads in the presence of wind, suggesting that this araneophagic insect exploits environmental noise that temporarily impairs the spiders' ability to detect vibrations. The predatory behaviour of S. giraffa seems to be adaptated in intricate manner for bypassing the sophisticated sensory systems of web-building spiders. These findings illustrate how the physical characteristics of the environment, along with the sensory systems of prey can shape the predatory strategies of animals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T04:05:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0e953b6be703401289af1248ce8b94ec |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T04:05:27Z |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-0e953b6be703401289af1248ce8b94ec2022-12-21T18:39:39ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032016-01-0131010.1098/rsos.160573160573Fine-scale analysis of an assassin bug's behaviour: predatory strategies to bypass the sensory systems of preyFernando G. SoleySome predators sidestep environments that render them conspicuous to the sensory systems of prey. However, these challenging environments are unavoidable for certain predators. Stenolemus giraffa is an assassin bug that feeds on web-building spiders; the web is the environment in which this predator finds its prey, but it also forms part of its preys' sophisticated sensory apparatus, blurring the distinction between environment and sensory systems. Stenolemus giraffa needs to break threads in the web that obstruct its path to the spiders, and such vibrations can alert the spiders. Using laser vibrometry, this study demonstrates how S. giraffa avoids alerting the spiders during its approach. When breaking threads, S. giraffa attenuates the vibrations produced by holding on to the loose ends of the broken thread and causing them to sag prior to release. In addition, S. giraffa releases the loose ends of a broken thread one at a time (after several seconds or minutes) and in this way spaces out the production of vibrations in time. Furthermore, S. giraffa was found to maximally reduce the amplitude of vibrations when breaking threads that are prone to produce louder vibrations. Finally, S. giraffa preferred to break threads in the presence of wind, suggesting that this araneophagic insect exploits environmental noise that temporarily impairs the spiders' ability to detect vibrations. The predatory behaviour of S. giraffa seems to be adaptated in intricate manner for bypassing the sophisticated sensory systems of web-building spiders. These findings illustrate how the physical characteristics of the environment, along with the sensory systems of prey can shape the predatory strategies of animals.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.160573araneophagystenolemus giraffaspider websreduviidae |
| spellingShingle | Fernando G. Soley Fine-scale analysis of an assassin bug's behaviour: predatory strategies to bypass the sensory systems of prey Royal Society Open Science araneophagy stenolemus giraffa spider webs reduviidae |
| title | Fine-scale analysis of an assassin bug's behaviour: predatory strategies to bypass the sensory systems of prey |
| title_full | Fine-scale analysis of an assassin bug's behaviour: predatory strategies to bypass the sensory systems of prey |
| title_fullStr | Fine-scale analysis of an assassin bug's behaviour: predatory strategies to bypass the sensory systems of prey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fine-scale analysis of an assassin bug's behaviour: predatory strategies to bypass the sensory systems of prey |
| title_short | Fine-scale analysis of an assassin bug's behaviour: predatory strategies to bypass the sensory systems of prey |
| title_sort | fine scale analysis of an assassin bug s behaviour predatory strategies to bypass the sensory systems of prey |
| topic | araneophagy stenolemus giraffa spider webs reduviidae |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.160573 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fernandogsoley finescaleanalysisofanassassinbugsbehaviourpredatorystrategiestobypassthesensorysystemsofprey |