New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Hiding in the grass: background matching conceals moths
(Lepidoptera: Crambidae) from detection by spider eyes (Araneae:
Salticidae)
Rebecca Moss
Robert R. Jackson
School of Biological Sciences
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand
robert.jackson@canterbury.ac.nz
Simon D. Pollard*
Canterbury Museum
Rolleston Avenue
Christchurch, New Zealand
spollard@canterburymuseum.com
*Author for correspondence.
Abstract Anti-predator crypsis were investigated experimentally in a study using grass moths (Lepidoptera: Crambidae; Orocrambus flexuosellus) as prey and jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae: Trite planiceps and Marpissa marina)
as predators. Moths were presented to salticids on backgrounds that
were, to human observers, either matching or contrasting. When moths
were on a matching background, salticids stalked less often, captured
moths less often, began stalking later and, once they started stalking,
made captures later than when moths were on a contrasting background.
These findings suggest that the salticids had more difficulty detecting
and identifying moths on a matching than a contrasting background. An
alternative hypothesis was ruled out: that the salticid’s
behaviour can be explained entirely as anti-predator decisions of the
salticid (i.e., the salticid decided to be less active on a background
that contrasted with itself). Two backgrounds were used that contrasted
with the moth, but only one of these backgrounds was matching for the
salticid. The background that was matching for T. planiceps was contrasting for M. marina,
and vice versa. Yet there were no significant differences in behaviour
related to whether the background was matching or contrasting for the
salticid.
Keywords Araneae; Salticidae; Crambidae; anti-predator defence
Z05041; Received 21 December 2005; accepted 4 May 2006; Online publication date 19 July 2006
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2006, Vol. 33: 207–214
0301–4223/06/3303–0207 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2006
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