Predation activity of two winter-active spiders (Araneae: Anyphaenidae, Philodromidae)

Anyphaena accentuata and Philodromus spp. are cold adapted and winter-active spider species. Their predation activity was investigated at constant temperatures between -4 and 30 degrees C. The lower temperature threshold for Anyphaena was -3.7 degrees C, while that of Philodromus was -1.2 degrees C. At 1 degrees C the latency to capture and prey consumption was significantly shorter in Anyphaena than in Philodromus. The capture rate increased with temperature and was maximal at 15 degrees C in Anyphaena and at 30 degrees C in Philodromus. At 30 degrees C, the latency to the capture was significantly shorter in Philodromus than in Anyphaena whose mortality significantly increased. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.