Population dynamics and phenology of the wall crab spider Selenops cocheleti Simon, 1880 (Araneae: Selenopidae) in Southeastern Brazil

ABSTRACT

Over a two-year period, we conducted population studies of Selenops cocheleti inhabiting trunks of Plinia cauliflora (Myrtaceae) and Pinus elliottii (Pinaceae) in southeastern Brazil. Adult females were present year-round while adult males were only present during summer, indicating a “stenochronous summer” phenological pattern. The longevity of adult females enables them to continuously generate egg-sacs throughout the year, resulting in the permanent recruitment of individuals. In conclusion, this study provides new insights into the life-history of S. cocheleti and how climatic variables and prey abundance influence the population abundance of the different age classes and adult sexes.

KEYWORDS:

• Population ecology
• phenological patterns
• age structure
• prey availability
• Serra do Japi

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo [processes: 2013/16469-8] and the Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia dos Hymenoptera Parasitoides da Região Sudeste (INCT-HYMPAR/SUDESTE) (CNPq, FAPESP, CAPES).