Predation of ladybird beetles by the orb-web spider Araneus diadematus

Ladybirds face a diversity of potential predators from which their main protection is powerful alkaloid-based chemical defence. In the laboratory, adults of the European orb-web spider Araneus diadematus Clerck readily consumed the native European ladybird Coccinella septempunctata L. and non-melani...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BioControl (Dordrecht, Netherlands) Netherlands), 2010-10, Vol.55 (5), p.631-638
Main Author: Sloggett, John J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agriculture
Alkaloids
Animal Biochemistry
Animal Ecology
Aphid biocontrol
Araneae
Araneidae
Behavioral Sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Cadavers
Chemical defence
Chemical defense
Coccinellidae
Enemy release hypothesis
Entomology
Experiments
Harmonia axyridis
Insects
Laboratories
Life Sciences
Overwintering
Pest control
Pests
Plant Pathology
Predation
Predators
Spiders
Toxicity
Webs
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Summary:Ladybirds face a diversity of potential predators from which their main protection is powerful alkaloid-based chemical defence. In the laboratory, adults of the European orb-web spider Araneus diadematus Clerck readily consumed the native European ladybird Coccinella septempunctata L. and non-melanics and melanics of the exotic Harmonia axyridis (Pallas). The spider was little deterred by their defensive chemistry and apparently suffered no ill effects after eating ladybirds. This is particularly notable for H. axyridis, which possesses a novel alkaloid not known from European ladybirds and to which European predators are not expected to be adapted. Examination of inhabited A. diadematus webs and experimental determination of for how long captured ladybirds remained in webs indicated that ≤2% of spiders consume a ladybird each day. Ladybirds and A. diadematus are probably complementary rather than antagonistic in controlling crop pests, with ladybirds being at greatest risk from A. diadematus predation in autumn, during migration to overwintering sites.
ISSN:1386-6141
1573-8248
DOI:10.1007/s10526-010-9291-0