When we think of spiders. We normally think of them as predators feeding on helpless prey who have fallen victim to their silky, sticky web. Spiders sense prey by a unique form of unintentional communication: vibration radiated from the prey's touch of the web. Upon this signal, the spider will approach the prey and have a happy meal.
However, the joke's on the spider this time. Assassin bugs, different from other bugs, exploit this very form of communication. They have the ability to mimic the same vibration given off by fallen prey on the web, luring the spider out, and turn the predator into prey.
This deceitful mechanism is intriguing to say the least. A study was conducted to measure this form of communication. Spiders, assassin bugs, usual spider prey, and debris were collected and isolated into a vibration recording environment. When debris fell on the web causing a vibration, the spiders did not come out, knowing from the vibration that it was not a potential meal. When a fly or aphid, a common prey for spiders, fell on the web, the spider came out to eat. This lead to the plucking of the web by the assassin bugs, which the vibration emitted was recorded and was nearly identical in frequency and amplitude to the prey's fall.
This form of predatory communication brings up the question, will spiders evolve a counter mechanism to the assassin bug's ability to mimic such vibration?
http://news.discovery.com/animals/assassin-bugs-spiders.html
Posted by Vince Tieu
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