MadSci Network: General Biology
Query:

Re: Which spider attracts a moth by mimicking a sex pheromone ?

Date: Tue Dec 1 09:58:51 1998
Posted By: David Richman, Staff, Entomology, New Mexico State University
Area of science: General Biology
ID: 911955975.Gb
Message:

The bolas spiders (Family Araneidae, several species in the North American 
genus Mastophora and the Australian genus Celaenia)are known to produce a 
pheromone analog that attracts male moths of a few species in the family 
Noctuidae.   The moths are trapped on a sticky ball on the end of a silk 
line (the bolas).   Other non-web building araneids, such as those in the 
genus Kaira (which does not use a bolas), may also produce pheromone 
analogs.

See: Eberhard, W. G.  1977. Agressive chemical mimicry by a bolas spider.  
Science 198:1173-1175.

     McKeown, K. C. 1952. Australian spiders, 2nd ed. Angus and Robertson 
Sydny.


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