Title | Predatory behaviour of the social orb-weaver spider, Geratonephila burmanica n. gen., n. sp (Araneae: Nephilidae) with its wasp prey, Cascoscelio incassus n. gen., n. sp (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) in Early Cretaceous Burmese amber |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2012 |
Authors | Poinar, GO, Buckley, R |
Journal | Historical Biology |
Volume | 24 |
Pagination | 519-525 |
Type of Article | Journal Article |
ISSN | 0891-2963 |
Abstract | The present work shows predatory behaviour of the social orb-weaver spider, Geratonephila burmanica n. gen., n. sp. (Araneae: Nephilidae) against a parasitic wasp, Cascoscelio incassus n. gen., n. sp. (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) in Early Cretaceous Burmese amber. An adult male and juvenile of G. burmanica in the same web provide the first fossil evidence of sociality in spiders. The spider is characterised by a pedipalp with a hemispherical tegulum, a subtegulum curved at 180 degrees and an apical spiralled embolas-conductor bent approximately 45 degrees at midpoint. The male wasp is characterised by an ocellar tubercle, 12-segmented antennae with a feeble five-segmented clava, thick sensilla trichodea curvata with rounded ends on the claval antennomeres, a short uncus, a short post-marginal vein and a nebulose radial sector (Rs) vein extending from the uncus to the costal margin of the forewing. This is the first fossil evidence of spider sociality and a fossil spider attacking prey trapped in its web. |
URL | <Go to ISI>://WOS:000308765200006 |
DOI | 10.1080/08912963.2011.640399 |