A comparison of locomotor responses of the field cricket, Gryllus pennsylvanicus, and house cricket, Acheta domesticus, to silk and excreta of the wolf spider Hogna helluo
Many animals respond to chemical cues from predators with reduced activity. However, relatively few studies have examined the response of insects to predator chemical cues. We examined variation in locomotor response of two species of cricket (Gryllus pennsylvanicus and Acheta domesticus) to silk and excreta cues produced by the predatory wolf spider Hogna helluo. We predicted that G. pennsylvanicus, which is syntopic with H. helluo, would show decreased activity in the presence of predator cues compared to the commercially raised cricket, Acheta domesticus. We exposed 60 individuals of each species of cricket to sheets of paper with one of 3 treatments (N=20/treatment): 1) chemical cues from a conspecific, 2) cues from H. helluo, or 3) a blank control. Activity levels of each individual were recorded for a 1 h period. Field crickets exhibited significantly lower activity on all substrate types compared to house crickets. Field crickets showed a significant reduction in time spent walking and time immobile on H. helluo treatments compared to either conspecific or the blank control. Acheta domesticus showed no significant decrease in activity across any substrate treatment. Results suggest that G. pennsylvanicus has either greater experience with H. helluo or has evolved adaptive antipredator responses when encountering chemical cues of this predator.
I have also collaborated with Erin Lynam on a research project. An abstract of research can be found under Erin Lynam's Research.