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Arabesky V, Johnson AD, Rozenberg T, Lubin Y, Segoli M, Mowery MA. Maternal care thwarts parasitoids in the invasive brown widow spider ( Latrodectus geometricus). Proc Biol Sci 2025; 292:20242735. [PMID: 40328306 PMCID: PMC12055288 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.2735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2024] [Revised: 02/02/2025] [Accepted: 03/27/2025] [Indexed: 05/08/2025] Open
Abstract
Maternal care can maximize offspring survival and may contribute to the establishment success of invasive species. The brown widow spider, Latrodectus geometricus, is a successful invader worldwide. Here, we investigated the role of maternal care in enhancing its success. We compared the defence mechanisms of the invasive L. geometricus with those of another widow spider native to the Negev desert, Latrodectus pallidus, against an egg sac parasitoid wasp. Both spider species exhibited guarding behaviours following exposure to wasps; however, only L. geometricus efficiently evaded and successfully killed the parasitoid. Accordingly, its egg sacs were parasitized less frequently than those of L. pallidus. Next, we evaluated the defensive role of the silk spike-like structures on L. geometricus egg sacs. When spikes were removed from half of the egg sac surface, the wasps laid more eggs on the spike-free side. In an additional experiment, L. geometricus females increased spike density on subsequent egg sacs after exposure to the parasitoid. We showed that L. geometricus employs both behavioural defences and modifications to the egg sac structure to protect against the parasitoid. These defences may provide L. geometricus with an advantage over native species in its invasive range, potentially contributing to its invasion success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Arabesky
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev—Sede Boqer Campus, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
- The Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev—Sede Boqer Campus, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Alfred Daniel Johnson
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev—Sede Boqer Campus, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Tamir Rozenberg
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev—Sede Boqer Campus, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Yael Lubin
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev—Sede Boqer Campus, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Michal Segoli
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev—Sede Boqer Campus, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Monica A. Mowery
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev—Sede Boqer Campus, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
- Department of Biology, York College, City University of New York, Jamaica, NY, USA
- The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
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Dugon MM, Lawton C, Sturgess D, Dunbar JP. Predation on a pygmy shrew,
Sorex minutus
, by the noble false widow spider,
Steatoda nobilis. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Michel M. Dugon
- Venom Systems & Proteomics Lab School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute, University of Galway Galway Ireland
| | - Colin Lawton
- Animal Ecology and Conservation Group School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute, University of Galway Galway Ireland
| | - Dawn Sturgess
- Venom Systems & Proteomics Lab School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute, University of Galway Galway Ireland
| | - John P. Dunbar
- Venom Systems & Proteomics Lab School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute, University of Galway Galway Ireland
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Worldwide Web: High Venom Potency and Ability to Optimize Venom Usage Make the Globally Invasive Noble False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis (Thorell, 1875) (Theridiidae) Highly Competitive against Native European Spiders Sharing the Same Habitats. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14090587. [PMID: 36136525 PMCID: PMC9500793 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14090587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Venom compositions include complex mixtures of toxic proteins that evolved to immobilize/dissuade organisms by disrupting biological functions. Venom production is metabolically expensive, and parsimonious use is expected, as suggested by the venom optimisation hypothesis. The decision-making capacity to regulate venom usage has never been demonstrated for the globally invasive Noble false widow Steatoda nobilis (Thorell, 1875) (Theridiidae). Here, we investigated variations of venom quantities available in a wild population of S. nobilis and prey choice depending on venom availability. To partially determine their competitiveness, we compared their attack rate success, median effective dose (ED50) and lethal dose (LD50), with four sympatric synanthropic species: the lace webbed spider Amaurobius similis, the giant house spider Eratigena atrica, the missing sector orb-weaver Zygiella x-notata, and the cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides. We show that S. nobilis regulates its venom usage based on availability, and its venom is up to 230-fold (0.56 mg/kg) more potent than native spiders. The high potency of S. nobilis venom and its ability to optimize its usage make this species highly competitive against native European spiders sharing the same habitats.
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Dunbar JP, Vitkauskaite A, Lawton C, Waddams B, Dugon MM. Webslinger vs. Dark Knight First record of a false widow spider
Steatoda nobilis
preying on a pipistrelle bat in Britain. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- John P. Dunbar
- Venom Systems & Proteomics Lab, School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute National University of Ireland Galway Galway Ireland
| | - Aiste Vitkauskaite
- Venom Systems & Proteomics Lab, School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute National University of Ireland Galway Galway Ireland
| | - Colin Lawton
- Animal Ecology and Conservation Group, School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute National University of Ireland Galway Galway Ireland
| | - Ben Waddams
- Venom Systems & Proteomics Lab, School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute National University of Ireland Galway Galway Ireland
- Ben Waddams Wildlife Art Shropshire UK
| | - Michel M. Dugon
- Venom Systems & Proteomics Lab, School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute National University of Ireland Galway Galway Ireland
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