ACQUIRED FOOD AVERSION OF A WOLF SPIDER TO 3 CEREAL APHIDS, INTRASPECIFIC AND INTERSPECIFIC EFFECTS

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 wit h 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 th ree species of aphids tested, it turned out that the aphid of lowest q uality as food for the spider created the weakest aversions, while the relatively higher quality aphids produced stronger aversions. Hypothe tical explanations for these findings are discussed.