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Science 14 September 1979:
Vol. 205. no. 4411, pp. 1149 - 1151
DOI: 10.1126/science.205.4411.1149
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Articles

Vibrations: Their Signal Function for a Spider Kleptoparasite

FRITZ VOLLRATH 1

1 Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 2072, Balboa, Canal Zone, Panama

The stealing behavior of Argyrodes elevatus suggests that this kleptoparasitic spider monitors the movements and the hunting success of its web-building host. Wrapping of prey by the host regularly elicits raids from the kleptoparasite. The prey-catching activities of the host generate vibrations that were recorded with a position-sensing photodiode. The recordings indicated that wrapping movements produce a characteristic pattern of vibrations.

Submitted on April 17, 1979


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
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D. O. Elias, A. C. Mason, W. P. Maddison, and R. R. Hoy (2003)
J. Exp. Biol. 206, 4029-4039
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Vibration Signal Transmission in Spider Orb Webs.
W. M. MASTERS and H. MARKL (1981)
Science 213, 363-365
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)