Fine-scale analysis of an assassin bug's behaviour: predatory strategies to bypass the sensory systems of prey.

ABSTRACT: 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

SUBMITTER: Soley FG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5099001 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature