Resumo: Nos seringais do Brasil o percevejo-de-renda Leptopharsa heveae (Hemiptera: Tingidae), e os ácaros Tenuipalpus heveae (Tenuipalpidae) e Calacarus heveae (Eriophyidae) são as principais pragas, e Salticidae, Anyphaenidae e Theridiidae são as aranhas mais abundantes. Para avaliar as interações destes artrópodes, foram realizados experimentos laboratoriais de confronto de predadores (aranhas) e presas (ácaros e percevejos) e para estimar a co-ocorrência e densidade foram feitas amostragens nos seringais da região de São José do Rio Preto-SP. Comparativamente os maiores valores de predação, de imobilização de presas nas sedas e de dispersão, foram observados respectivamente para os seguintes tratamentos: a) Predação de L. heveae por Theridiidae (37%), b) imobilização de C. heveae (21,5%) e de L. heveae (14,5%) por sedas de Salticidae, c) dispersão de T. heveae por Salticidae (29,5%) e por Anyphaenidae (35%). A maior mortalidade total causada pelas aranhas nos percevejos-de-renda foi de 40% e nos ácaros, igual a 42% para T. heveae e 36% para C. heveae. A ocorrência simultânea dessas aranhas e fitófagos nos cultivos de seringueira predispõem confrontos, e estes causam algum tipo de prejuízo para as pragas, de forma que, medidas que favoreçam a presença das aranhas nos cultivos devem ser adotadas. / Abstract: In the rubber tree fields of Brazil the rubber tree lace bug Leptopharsa heveae (Hemiptera: Tingidae) and the mites Tenuipalpus heveae (Tenuipalpidae) and Calacarus heveae (Eriophyidae) are the main pests, and Salticidae, Anyphaenidae and Theridiidae are the most abundant spiders. To evaluate the interactions between these arthropods, laboratorial experiments by confrontation of predators (spiders) and preys (mites and tree lace bug) were carried out and to estimate the co-occurrence and density, samplings occur in rubber tree fields at São José do Rio Preto - SP. Comparatively, the highest values of predation, preys immobilization in the silks and dispersion had been observed respectively for the following treatments: a) L. heveae predation by Theridiidae (37%), b) C. heveae (21,5%) and L. heveae (14,5%) immobilization through silks by Salticidae, c) T. heveae dispersion by Salticidae (29,5%) and Anyphaenidae (35%). The highest overall mortality caused by the spiders in the tree lace bugs was 40% and for the mites, 42% for T. heveae and 36% for C. heveae. The simultaneous occurrence of these spiders and fitofagous in the rubber tree fields predicts confrontations that cause some kind of damage for the pests, so that, measures that favor the presence of spiders in the plantations must be adopted. / Orientador: Isabela Maria Piovesan Rinaldi / Coorientador: Reinaldo José Fazzio Feres / Banca: Marcel Ricardo Tanzini / Banca: Luiz Carlos Forti / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2003-02-24Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:08:56Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 ferrarifilho_peb_me_sjrp.pdf: 2519356 bytes, checksum: 96719c8435b790483939f0ecc7ff654f (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Nos seringais do Brasil o percevejo-de-renda Leptopharsa heveae (Hemiptera: Tingidae), e os ácaros Tenuipalpus heveae (Tenuipalpidae) e Calacarus heveae (Eriophyidae) são as principais pragas, e Salticidae, Anyphaenidae e Theridiidae são as aranhas mais abundantes. Para avaliar as interações destes artrópodes, foram realizados experimentos laboratoriais de confronto de predadores (aranhas) e presas (ácaros e percevejos) e para estimar a co-ocorrência e densidade foram feitas amostragens nos seringais da região de São José do Rio Preto-SP. Comparativamente os maiores valores de predação, de imobilização de presas nas sedas e de dispersão, foram observados respectivamente para os seguintes tratamentos: a) Predação de L. heveae por Theridiidae (37%), b) imobilização de C. heveae (21,5%) e de L. heveae (14,5%) por sedas de Salticidae, c) dispersão de T. heveae por Salticidae (29,5%) e por Anyphaenidae (35%). A maior mortalidade total causada pelas aranhas nos percevejos-de-renda foi de 40% e nos ácaros, igual a 42% para T. heveae e 36% para C. heveae. A ocorrência simultânea dessas aranhas e fitófagos nos cultivos de seringueira predispõem confrontos, e estes causam algum tipo de prejuízo para as pragas, de forma que, medidas que favoreçam a presença das aranhas nos cultivos devem ser adotadas. / In the rubber tree fields of Brazil the rubber tree lace bug Leptopharsa heveae (Hemiptera: Tingidae) and the mites Tenuipalpus heveae (Tenuipalpidae) and Calacarus heveae (Eriophyidae) are the main pests, and Salticidae, Anyphaenidae and Theridiidae are the most abundant spiders. To evaluate the interactions between these arthropods, laboratorial experiments by confrontation of predators (spiders) and preys (mites and tree lace bug) were carried out and to estimate the co-occurrence and density, samplings occur in rubber tree fields at São José do Rio Preto - SP. Comparatively, the highest values of predation, preys immobilization in the silks and dispersion had been observed respectively for the following treatments: a) L. heveae predation by Theridiidae (37%), b) C. heveae (21,5%) and L. heveae (14,5%) immobilization through silks by Salticidae, c) T. heveae dispersion by Salticidae (29,5%) and Anyphaenidae (35%). The highest overall mortality caused by the spiders in the tree lace bugs was 40% and for the mites, 42% for T. heveae and 36% for C. heveae. The simultaneous occurrence of these spiders and fitofagous in the rubber tree fields predicts confrontations that cause some kind of damage for the pests, so that, measures that favor the presence of spiders in the plantations must be adopted.

Anelosimus studiosus is a socially polyphenic spider. Individuals can be classified as social/tolerant or solitary/aggressive. These behavioral differences are associated with considerable variation in social structure. Here, we begin to examine the physiological differences that may underlie the behavioral dimorphism in this species and possible implications for the evolution of sociality. Octopamine is a neurotransmitter that has been found to elevate aggression in invertebrates. Serotonin has been shown, in some cases, to interact antagonistically with octopamine. We used High Pressure Liquid Chromatography with Electrochemical Detection to quantify levels of these neurochemicals among adult females from social (multi-female) and solitary (single-female) webs in east Tennessee. A subset of spiders was scored for individual social tendency. We found that higher octopamine levels are associated with a greater degree of aggression and intolerance, both at the individual level and the population level, while higher levels of serotonin are found in multi-female colonies and social individuals.

Quantifying individual differences in behavior and the extent that behavior is influenced by circadian control is of paramount importance in behavioral ecology. In addition, the proximate mechanisms underlying behavior are also critical in order to obtain a more complete picture of how behavior evolves. Biogenic amines (BAs) are simple nitrogenous compounds derived from amino acids and have been consistently and extensively linked to behavior. For this study, we analyzed temporal patterns of BAs in relation to the antipredator (boldness) and aggressive behavior in female Agelenopsis pennsylvanica, a funnel-web spider. Using HPLC-ED, we compared behavioral responses to temporal patterns of octopamine and serotonin, two BAs known to influence behavior in invertebrates. Our results suggest that, while there was a clear diel cycling pattern of both aggression and boldness, BAs do not follow this same pattern, suggesting that oscillations in absolute levels of BAs are not the underpinnings of behavioral oscillations.

The importance of social behaviour is evident in human society, but there are both costs and benefits associated with cooperation and sociality throughout the animal kingdom. At what point do the benefits outweigh the costs, and when do selective pressures favour sociality and colonization over solitude and independence? To investigate these questions, we have focused on an anomalous species of spider, Anelosimus studiosus, also known now as the northern social spider. Throughout its broad range, A. studiosus is solitary and aggressive, but recently, colonies of cooperative and social individuals have been observed at northern latitudes. This leads to two research questions: 1) what characteristics differentiate the two variants behaviourally, and, 2) how are they different physiologically? Colonies and individuals were collected from multiple populations throughout the Tennessee River watershed area and maintained in a laboratory environment for quantitative and qualitative assessment of behavioural traits as well as specific neurochemical analysis by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. After classifying individuals as social or aggressive, I looked at the influence of factors such as age, reproductive state, nutritional state, and time of day on behaviour and neurophysiology. I found correlations between social behaviours and serotonin, aggressive behaviours and octopamine (invertebrate counterpart of norepinephrine), and several other compounds associated with an increase or decrease in aggression. These studies combine techniques from multiple disciplines to contribute to the greater understanding of the proximate control of social and aggressive behaviours as well as factors influencing the evolution of sociality.