Spider Bio Final 3150

Spider biology cornell uni

What are the notable traits of the Salticidae (Jumping Spiders)?

Excellent vision, intricate courtship displays, and complex predatory strategies.

What do the Anterior Median Eyes (AME) in jumping spiders provide?

Acute resolution for hunting and help in detecting and focusing on prey with high precision.

What is the function of the Posterior Lateral Eyes (PLE) in jumping spiders?

They function as motion detectors enabling almost 360-degree vision.

What is special about the genus Portia within the Salticidae family?

Notable for object permanence and advanced cognitive hunting strategies.

What unique trait do Theridiidae (Cobweb Spiders) possess for prey capture?

Use of sticky silk.

What type of venom do Latrodectus (widow spiders) have?

Neurotoxic venom.

Where can you find Loxosceles (recluse spiders)?

In North and South America, inhabiting dry, dark environments.

What characterizes the venom of Atrax (Australian funnel-web spiders)?

It is neurotoxic and found in Australia’s forests and urban areas.

What family do the most dangerous scorpions belong to?

Buthidae.

What are the threats to spider populations?

Habitat destruction, climate change, pesticide use, and fear of spiders.

What unique challenge do mygalomorphs face concerning their habitat?

Limited dispersal abilities and habitat specialization.

What medical applications can spider venoms have?

They can be used for painkillers and neuroprotective agents.

What is a characteristic of cooperative species like Anelosimus eximius?

They engage in cooperative prey capture.

What are the costs of group-living in spiders?

Increased competition for resources and risk of disease transmission.

What is significant about sociality in spiders like Stegodyphus?

They share resources and care for offspring.

How does sociality in Anelosimus correlate with prey size?

Larger prey favors cooperation.

What role does elevation play in spider sociality?

Increased sociality is observed at lower elevations.

How do rain patterns affect spider sociality?

High rain favors web-sharing among spiders.

What is a method of colony initiation found in spiders?

Ballooning in some species; budding in others.

What type of care do scorpions provide for their young?

Maternal care, carrying young on their backs.

How do Amblypygids care for their offspring?

They guard eggs and juveniles.

What unique defense mechanism do Salticidae spiders use?

Crypsis or camouflage.

What is urticating hair in Theraphosidae?

Defensive bristles that can be irritating to predators.

What adaptive feature helps spiders avoid bird predation?

Crypsis, speed, and burrowing.

What is the hunting strategy of Pompilid wasps?

They target large spiders.

How do crabronid wasps differ from sphecid wasps in hunting tactics?

Crabronids have a broader diet while sphecids are prey-specific hunters.

What is the limitation of spiders in pest control?

Generalist diet and slow metabolism reduce efficiency.

What trait is suggested to enhance pest control efficiency in spiders?

Increased prey specificity.

What unique feature can scorpions exhibit under UV light?

Fluorescence.

What unique defensive feature do Thelyphonids possess?

Acetic acid spray.

What does 'selfish herd' refer to in spider behavior?

The concept of safety in numbers.

How does necrotic arachnidism affect humans?

Causes tissue damage from venom.

What type of harm can neurotoxic venom cause?

It affects the nervous system.

What are urticating hairs used for in spiders?

They are defensive bristles that deter predators.

What does matriphagy refer to in certain spider species?

Offspring consuming the mother.

What kind of jaws do spiders with chelate chelicerae possess?

Pincer-like jaws.