Distinctive yellow bands on a sit-and-wait predator: prey attractant or camouflage?

摘要: Many animals have conspicuous body colour that may serve physiological, camouflage or communicative functions. This study investigated the influence of bright coloration in orb-web spiders on response predator and prey using Argiope keyserlingi, St Andrew's Cross spider. species has three yellow bands its dorsal abdominal surface. These could act as devise through disruptive colouration attract to web by exploiting preferences insect visual system. In field, naturally captured more than where were coloured over with black marker. Similarly, some (Harlequin beetles: Tectocoris diophthalamus) moved towards away from blackened Y-choice tests. However, native bees (Trigona carbonaria) did not seem discriminate at a distance when approaching spider an empty web. praying mantid predators (Pseudomantis albofimbriata) preferred Y-maze, but they showed no preference offered occupied Thus our data suggest main function is crypsis, perhaps via obscures outline