Transmission of ice-nucleating active bacteria from a prey reduces cold hardiness of a predator (Araneae: Theridiidae).
The influence of ice-nucleating active (INA) bacteria on cold hardiness of the house spider, Achaearanea tepidariorum, was determined by measuring the supercooling point (SCP) of hatchlings given either INA-bacteria-fed or bacteria-free prey (Drosophila melanogaster). Spiders that had eaten INA-bacteria-fed flies showed higher SCPs than those fed on bacteria-free flies. Through feeding, INA bacteria in the prey reduce the cold hardiness of spiders. This fact should be taken into account before using INA agents as a means of pest management.
Tanaka
Kazuhiro
K
Ecological Laboratory, GE, Miyagi Gakuin Women's University, Sakuragaoka 9-1-1, 981-8557 Aobaku, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. tanaka@mgu.ac.jp
Watanabe
Masahiko
M
D000818:Animals; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007053:Ice; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D044224:Pseudomonas syringae / Q000254:growth & development*; D013112:Spiders / Q000502:physiology*
D007053:Ice