Predation on a pygmy shrew, Sorex minutus, by the noble false widow spider, Steatoda nobilis
Abstract The noble false widow spider Steatoda nobilis is a globally invasive species with implications for public health and possibly for native ecosystems. Here, we report on a case of predation on a protected species of vertebrate, a pygmy shrew Sorex minutus in Britain. The importance and novelt...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2023-02-01
|
| Series: | Ecosphere |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4422 |
| _version_ | 1797894383589130240 |
|---|---|
| author | Michel M. Dugon Colin Lawton Dawn Sturgess John P. Dunbar |
| author_facet | Michel M. Dugon Colin Lawton Dawn Sturgess John P. Dunbar |
| author_sort | Michel M. Dugon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The noble false widow spider Steatoda nobilis is a globally invasive species with implications for public health and possibly for native ecosystems. Here, we report on a case of predation on a protected species of vertebrate, a pygmy shrew Sorex minutus in Britain. The importance and novelty of this report are: (1) this is the third documented case of S. nobilis preying on a vertebrate in five years, suggesting that small vertebrates are likely to be a more frequent component of their diet than previously thought; (2) this is the first case of a Theridiidae spider preying on a shrew in Britain; and (3) this is the first case of predation on shrews by the genus Steatoda globally. Overall, S. nobilis fits the profile of a habitual vertebrate‐eating spider. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T07:09:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-36b9f14cdb8b4d8e94ba140de55c4236 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2150-8925 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T07:09:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-36b9f14cdb8b4d8e94ba140de55c42362023-02-27T00:40:39ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252023-02-01142n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.4422Predation on a pygmy shrew, Sorex minutus, by the noble false widow spider, Steatoda nobilisMichel M. Dugon0Colin Lawton1Dawn Sturgess2John P. Dunbar3Venom Systems & Proteomics Lab School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute, University of Galway Galway IrelandAnimal Ecology and Conservation Group School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute, University of Galway Galway IrelandVenom Systems & Proteomics Lab School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute, University of Galway Galway IrelandVenom Systems & Proteomics Lab School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute, University of Galway Galway IrelandAbstract The noble false widow spider Steatoda nobilis is a globally invasive species with implications for public health and possibly for native ecosystems. Here, we report on a case of predation on a protected species of vertebrate, a pygmy shrew Sorex minutus in Britain. The importance and novelty of this report are: (1) this is the third documented case of S. nobilis preying on a vertebrate in five years, suggesting that small vertebrates are likely to be a more frequent component of their diet than previously thought; (2) this is the first case of a Theridiidae spider preying on a shrew in Britain; and (3) this is the first case of predation on shrews by the genus Steatoda globally. Overall, S. nobilis fits the profile of a habitual vertebrate‐eating spider.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4422false widow spiderinvasive speciespredationSorex minutusSteatoda nobilisvenom |
| spellingShingle | Michel M. Dugon Colin Lawton Dawn Sturgess John P. Dunbar Predation on a pygmy shrew, Sorex minutus, by the noble false widow spider, Steatoda nobilis Ecosphere false widow spider invasive species predation Sorex minutus Steatoda nobilis venom |
| title | Predation on a pygmy shrew, Sorex minutus, by the noble false widow spider, Steatoda nobilis |
| title_full | Predation on a pygmy shrew, Sorex minutus, by the noble false widow spider, Steatoda nobilis |
| title_fullStr | Predation on a pygmy shrew, Sorex minutus, by the noble false widow spider, Steatoda nobilis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Predation on a pygmy shrew, Sorex minutus, by the noble false widow spider, Steatoda nobilis |
| title_short | Predation on a pygmy shrew, Sorex minutus, by the noble false widow spider, Steatoda nobilis |
| title_sort | predation on a pygmy shrew sorex minutus by the noble false widow spider steatoda nobilis |
| topic | false widow spider invasive species predation Sorex minutus Steatoda nobilis venom |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4422 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michelmdugon predationonapygmyshrewsorexminutusbythenoblefalsewidowspidersteatodanobilis AT colinlawton predationonapygmyshrewsorexminutusbythenoblefalsewidowspidersteatodanobilis AT dawnsturgess predationonapygmyshrewsorexminutusbythenoblefalsewidowspidersteatodanobilis AT johnpdunbar predationonapygmyshrewsorexminutusbythenoblefalsewidowspidersteatodanobilis |