COLOR AND PATTERN IN PREDATOR-PREY INTERACTIONS - THE BRIGHT BODY COLORS AND PATTERNS OF A TROPICAL ORBSPINNING SPIDER ATTRACT FLOWER-SEEKING PREY

1. We used grass shields to manipulate the visibility of a large, brig htly coloured, orb web-spinning spider. The shields hid spiders from p rey approaching from one direction but spider visibility was enhanced, owing to the great contrast between the spider and the shield backgro und, for prey approaching from the opposite direction. Open rings were positioned in front of spiders designated as controls. 2. Early in th e rainy season, prey capture was slightly but significantly higher at webs where the visibility of one side of the spider was enhanced (or h idden). Later in the rainy season when insect abundance dropped, more pollinating insects were attracted by the spider's ultraviolet (UV)-re flecting, dorsal surface than the spider's brown and yellow venter. 3. These data suggest that the coloured and patterned body surfaces of A rgiope argentata affect the rate and types of prey spiders capture. Th e importance of the colour patterns, however, varies with the abundanc e and type of insects in the area in which the spider is foraging.