A neotropical spider in the genus Janula Strand 1932 is reported as an opportunistic raider in damaged carton nests of the arboreal termite Nasutitermes ephratae. These spiders were shown to be attracted to ruptured nests and galleries from which they gather soldier termite prey that they bundle into silk-wrapped balls before suspending them away from the nests. Three species of Forcipomyia and one species of Atrichopogon (Ceratopogonidae, biting midges), rare associates of spiders, are reported as kleptoparasites on the dangling and immobilized termites.
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1 November 2015
New observations on a neotropical termite-hunting theridiid spider: opportunistic nest raiding, prey storage, and ceratopogonid kleptoparasites
Stephen A. Marshall,
Art Borkent,
Ingi Agnarsson,
Gard W. Otis,
Lyndsay Fraser,
Dave d'Entremont
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The Journal of Arachnology
Vol. 43 • No. 3
November 2015
Vol. 43 • No. 3
November 2015
Atrichopogon
Ceratopogonidae
Forcipomyia
Janula
kleptoparasitism
Nasutitermes
spider foraging