title: Intricate predatory decisions by a mosquito-specialist spider from Malaysia.
abstract: Paracyrba wanlessi is a southeast Asian jumping spider (Salticidae) that lives in the hollow internodes of fallen bamboo and preys on the larvae, pupae and adults of mosquitoes. In contrast to Evarcha culicivora, an East African salticid that is also known for actively targeting mosquitoes as preferred prey, there was no evidence of P. wanlessi choosing mosquitoes on the basis of species, sex or diet. However, our findings show that P. wanlessi chooses mosquitoes significantly more often than a variety of other prey types, regardless of whether the prey are in or away from water, and regardless of whether the mosquitoes are adults or juveniles. Moreover, a preference for mosquito larvae, pupae and adults is expressed regardless of whether test spiders are maintained on a diet of terrestrial or aquatic prey and regardless of whether the diet includes or excludes mosquitoes. Congruence of an environmental factor (in water versus away from water) with prey type (aquatic versus terrestrial mosquitoes) appeared to be important and yet, even when the prey were in the incongruent environment, P. wanlessi continued to choose mosquitoes more often than other prey.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury , Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand ; International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) , Thomas Odhiambo Campus, PO Box 30, Mbita Point 40305, Kenya.
authors.forename: Robert R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences , National University of Singapore , 14 Science Drive 4, 117543, Singapore ; Centre for Behavioural Ecology and Evolution , College of Life Sciences, Hubei University , Wuhan, Hubei 430062, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Daiqin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences , National University of Singapore , 14 Science Drive 4, 117543, Singapore ; National Parks Board, Singapore Botanic Gardens , 1 Cluny Road 259569, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jeremy R W
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Woon
authors.affiliation: Centre for Behavioural Ecology and Evolution , College of Life Sciences, Hubei University , Wuhan, Hubei 430062, People's Republic of China ; Faculty of Science, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya , Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Rosli
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hashim
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury , Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand ; International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) , Thomas Odhiambo Campus, PO Box 30, Mbita Point 40305, Kenya.
authors.forename: Fiona R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Cross
keywords: Spartaeinae; mosquitoes; perception; predatory specialization; prey preference; prey-choice behaviour