First description of predatory behavior in cnodalia harpax (Araneae: Araneidae)

Abstract

Predatory behavior in Cnodalia harpax is described herein for the first time. Females of the species hanging on two threads span between branches at night were observed in the field. One of them was feeding on a sciarid fly. Observations in the laboratory revealed that C. harpax used its long claws to capture prey by hooking the legs, wings, and body. The impalement of prey by claws, previously described in tetragnathid spiders with long claws, had not been observed in C. harpax.