Intra- and inter-specific effects in prey size capture by wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae) against the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda under laboratory conditions

ABSTRACT

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, (hereafter FAW) is a major pest in South American crops; however, knowledge about its potential native natural predators is limited. Size is a factor that constrains predators against prey, such as larvae of varying sizes. The predation capability of males and females of the native wolf spiders Lycosa thorelli and Pavocosa sp. were evaluated against different-sized FAW larvae. Contrary to expected results, both sexes consumed FAW larvae of similar size ranges. L. thorelli captured larger FAW larvae, suggesting this species might prey on a wider range of FAW instars indicating its potential role as a FAW biological control agent.

KEYWORDS:

• Relative size
• pest
• generalist predator
• native
• natural enemies

Acknowledgements

We are indebted to the staff of the UMNG by their logistic support. We thank to two anonymous reviewers by their feedback, which helped us to improve this manuscript. Conceptualisation: Luis Fernando García; Methodology: Luis Fernando García, Andrés Velasco, Fernando Cantor; Formal analysis and investigation: All authors; Writing – original draft preparation: All authors; Writing – review and editing: All authors; Funding acquisition: Fernando Cantor; Supervision: Luis Fernando García, Fernando Cantor.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Original data can be requested to corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

LFG is supported by the Uruguayan Agency of Research and Innovation (SNI-ANII), and by the Full-Time dedication programm (CSIC-DT). YC by CABI-Brazil, JP by Université de Rennes-France, FCR by the UMNG-Colombia. The field work was part of the INV-CIAS-3003 project funding by CABI-UMNG cooperation.