Web-invasion and araneophagy by new zealand and australian pholcid spiders

Abstract

Pholcus phalangioides, Pholcus ancor- alis, and Psilochorus sphaeroides were observed in the field in New Zealand (first species only) and Australia (all three species) to invade the webs of other species. P. phalangioides was observed to feed on spiders in alien webs. Webs of each species were frequently contiguous with webs of other spiders and P. sphaeroides sometimes invaded neighbouring webs in pursuit of insects. © The Royal Society of New Zealand 1993.