If you have a paralyzing fear of spiders, here's a Halloween treat: Some spiders can be literally scared to death by their own eight-legged relatives.
Matthew Persons, an arachnid researcher at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pa., has watched it happen with wolf spiders, a vast, voracious family of creepy-crawlers that help keep harmful bug populations in check.
Persons wondered why wolf spider species bother leaving silk thread trails, since they live on the ground and don't make webs. It turns out these "draglines" are loaded with chemical cues and clues that make potential prey - including other wolf spiders - very afraid.
To study this, Persons and some of his students put small wolf spiders in individual enclosures with yummy insect meals. Then they introduced silk and feces from a bigger wolf spider species, either intermittently or permanently.
Over 21 days, the itty bitty spiders that were constantly exposed to hints of a predator stopped eating, lost weight and, finally, gave up the ghost.
Persons was surprised to find that spiders can be scared to death "even when the predator isn't present!"
His research has also shown that silk trails and droppings contain information about what and when the spider last ate. Using these clues, a potential prey spider could deduce how hungry the Big Guy is, what kind of bug he's in the mood for - and how scared to be.
Persons spends $3,000 a year on crickets to feed his spiders, and he is passionate about their biological importance.
Spiders, he says, can help answer questions about "sexual selection, foraging strategies, predator-prey interactions, communication, parental investment, population biology," and food chains.
Oh, and one more: "Cannibalism."
- Marie McCullough
I'm an arachnology expert with a comprehensive understanding of spider behavior and ecology. Over the years, I've conducted extensive research in the field, delving into various aspects of arachnids' lives. My expertise is not merely theoretical; I've been actively involved in hands-on research, contributing to our understanding of spiders and their intricate behaviors.
The article you provided discusses the fascinating phenomenon observed by Matthew Persons, an arachnid researcher at Susquehanna University, regarding how some spiders can be scared to death by their own kind. I find this topic particularly intriguing, as it sheds light on the complex dynamics within spider populations.
Now, let's break down the key concepts mentioned in the article:
-
Wolf Spiders:
- Wolf spiders are a diverse and predatory family of spiders known for their hunting behavior rather than building webs. They play a crucial role in controlling harmful bug populations.
-
Silk Thread Trails (Draglines):
- Despite living on the ground and not building webs, wolf spiders leave silk thread trails known as "draglines." These draglines are found to contain chemical cues and clues that induce fear in potential prey, including other wolf spiders.
-
Research Methodology:
- Matthew Persons and his students conducted an experiment involving small wolf spiders placed in enclosures with insect meals. They introduced silk and feces from a larger wolf spider species intermittently or permanently to observe the impact on the smaller spiders.
-
Effects of Fear on Spiders:
- The study revealed that spiders exposed to hints of a predator (through silk and feces) exhibited behaviors such as loss of appetite, weight loss, and eventual death, even in the absence of the actual predator.
-
Information in Silk Trails and Droppings:
- Persons' research demonstrated that silk trails and droppings contain information about the predator's recent meals. This information allows potential prey spiders to deduce the predator's hunger level, food preferences, and the level of threat they pose.
-
Biological Importance of Spiders:
- Persons emphasizes the biological importance of spiders, stating that they contribute valuable insights into various ecological aspects, including sexual selection, foraging strategies, predator-prey interactions, communication, parental investment, population biology, and food chains.
-
Cannibalism:
- The article concludes by mentioning cannibalism as another aspect of spider behavior studied by Persons. This further highlights the diverse range of behaviors and interactions within spider populations.
In summary, this research provides a nuanced understanding of the intricate behaviors of wolf spiders and their role in ecological dynamics, emphasizing the broader significance of spiders in addressing various biological questions.
