Entomophaga (1997) 42, 63-69

S. Toft (1997)
Acquired food aversion of a wolf spider to three cereal aphids: Intra- and interspecific effects
Entomophaga 42 (1/2), 63-69
Abstract: Naive spiders usually accept aphids though these are low quality food, but they subsequently develop aversions as a result of experience. An aversion induced by one species of cereal aphid will be effective with the same strength also against two other species, no matter which of the three species induces the aversions; thus, it plays no role which species the spider encounters. However, the strength of the aversions is significantly dependent on which species induces them. With the three species of aphids tested, it turned out that the aphid of lowest quality as food for the spider created the weakest aversions, while the relatively higher quality aphids produced stronger aversions. Hypothetical explanations for these findings are discussed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Søren Toft

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Sitobion avenae		Denmark
	Rhopalosiphum padi		Denmark
	Metopolophium dirhodum		Denmark
Pardosa prativaga (predator)	Sitobion avenae		Denmark
Pardosa prativaga (predator)	Rhopalosiphum padi		Denmark
Pardosa prativaga (predator)	Metopolophium dirhodum		Denmark