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1 February 2019 Trophic traits of Grammostola vachoni, a tarantula (Araneae : Theraphosidae) from Argentina
Leonela Schwerdt, Gabriel Pompozzi, Ana Elena de Villalobos, Fernando Pérez-Miles
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Abstract

This is the first study about trophic traits of Grammostola vachoni, a threatened theraphosid spider endemic to the mountain systems of central Argentina. Four prey types were used in experiments: crickets, cockroaches, beetle larvae and adult beetles. Grammostola vachoni was observed to eat at a rate of about once every 11 days, with the mean total number of prey consumed per spider during the experimental period being 2.7. Latency to the first attack was similar for crickets, cockroaches and beetle larvae, but was shorter for adult beetles. Feeding time was significantly longer for crickets and beetle larvae. Mass gain was significantly different among prey types. Feeding effectiveness and ingestion rate were significantly higher for crickets. A significant positive correlation for feeding effectiveness and ingestion rate with prey mass and the initial spider mass was also found.

© CSIRO 2018
Leonela Schwerdt, Gabriel Pompozzi, Ana Elena de Villalobos, and Fernando Pérez-Miles "Trophic traits of Grammostola vachoni, a tarantula (Araneae : Theraphosidae) from Argentina," Australian Journal of Zoology 66(3), 228-234, (1 February 2019). https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO18034
Received: 14 May 2018; Accepted: 31 December 2018; Published: 1 February 2019
KEYWORDS
feeding effectiveness
feeding frequency
ingestion rate
spider
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