title: Survival strategies of the crab spider Thomisus onustus Walckenaer 1806 (Chelicerata, Arachnida, Thomisidae).
abstract: The initial energy supply of emerging spiderlings is relatively meagre, so survival without feeding on insects during a spell of bad weather is limited to a period of a few days or weeks. During our investigations, spiderlings of Thomisus onustus (Arachnida, Thomisidae) were kept on different diets. There was a significant difference in survival rate between spiderlings that were starved or fed on pollen, "nectar", or Drosophila. The results showed that pollen and nectar can be a source of energy for spiders for an extensive period. This demonstrates another way in which spiders may survive starvation when insect prey is lacking and thus ensure the survival of a whole population.
authors.affiliation: Institut für allgemeine Botanik, Johnnes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Saarstrasse 21, D-6500, Mainz, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vogelei
authors.affiliation: Institut für Spezielle Botanik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Saarstrasse 21, D-6500, Mainz, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Greissl
keywords: Nectar; Nutrition; Pollen; Survival rate; Thomisus onustus spiderlings