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Research Article

How blood-derived odor influences mate-choice decisions by a mosquito-eating predator

Fiona R. Cross, Robert R. Jackson, and Simon D. Pollard
  1. aSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand;
  2. bInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Thomas Odhiambo Campus, P.O. Box 30, Mbita Point, 40305 Kenya; and
  3. cCanterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand

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PNAS November 17, 2009 106 (46) 19416-19419; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0904125106
Fiona R. Cross
aSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand;
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Robert R. Jackson
aSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand;
bInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Thomas Odhiambo Campus, P.O. Box 30, Mbita Point, 40305 Kenya; and
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Simon D. Pollard
cCanterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand
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  • For correspondence: simon.pollard@canterbury.ac.nz
  1. Edited by Hans R. Herren, Millennium Institute, Arlington, VA, and approved September 29, 2009 (received for review April 14, 2009)

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Abstract

Evarcha culicivora (Araneae, Salticidae) feeds indirectly on vertebrate blood by choosing, as preferred prey, bloodcarrying female mosquitoes. Mutual mate-choice behavior is also pronounced in this species. Here we show that, when E. culicivora feeds indirectly on blood, it acquires a diet-related odor that makes it more attractive to the opposite sex. The mate-choice decisions of the adults of both sexes were investigated in a series of experiments based on comparing how long the test spider remained close to the odor of one source spider on one day and to the odor of a different source spider on the following day. Four different maintenance diets for source spiders were used in these experiments: bloodfed female mosquitoes (Culicidae, Anopheles gambiae ss), sugar-fed female mosquitoes, male mosquitoes, and lake flies (Chironomidae, Nilodorum brevibucca). Both sexes of E. culicivora spent more time close to the odor of opposite-sex conspecifics that had been on a diet of bloodfed mosquitoes (blood diet) instead of any of the three nonblood diets. Opposite-sex conspecifics that had been on a nonblood diet became more attractive once they were switched to a blood diet. That the attractive odor from blood dissipates was shown when spiders became less attractive once they were switched to a nonblood diet or subjected to a fast. However, there was no evident preference for the odor of a same-sex conspecific on a blood diet instead of a lake fly diet. These findings are discussed in the context of sexual selection and sensory exploitation.

  • mosquitoes
  • olfaction
  • predation
  • sensory exploitation
  • sexual selection

Footnotes

  • ↵1To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: simon.pollard{at}canterbury.ac.nz
  • Author contributions: F.R.C., R.R.J., and S.D.P. designed research; F.R.C., R.R.J., and S.D.P. performed research; F.R.C. and R.R.J. analyzed data; and F.R.C., R.R.J., and S.D.P. wrote the paper.

  • The authors declare no conflict of interest.

  • This article is a PNAS Direct Submission.

  • Received April 14, 2009.
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How blood-derived odor influences mate-choice decisions by a mosquito-eating predator
Fiona R. Cross, Robert R. Jackson, Simon D. Pollard
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Nov 2009, 106 (46) 19416-19419; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0904125106

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How blood-derived odor influences mate-choice decisions by a mosquito-eating predator
Fiona R. Cross, Robert R. Jackson, Simon D. Pollard
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Nov 2009, 106 (46) 19416-19419; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0904125106
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: 106 (46)
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