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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America logoLink to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
. 1991 Sep 15;88(18):8194–8197. doi: 10.1073/pnas.88.18.8194

Chemical attraction of kleptoparasitic flies to heteropteran insects caught by orb-weaving spiders.

T Eisner 1, M Eisner 1, M Deyrup 1
PMCID: PMC52473  PMID: 1896468

Abstract

Insects of the heteropteran families Pentatomidae (stink bugs) and Coreidae (squash bugs), when being eaten by the orb-weaving spider Nephila clavipes, attract flies of the family Milichiidae. The flies aggregate on the bugs and, as kleptoparasites, share in the spider's meal. Stink bugs and squash bugs typically eject defensive sprays when attacked; they do so when caught by Nephila, but the spray only minimally affects the spider. Evidence is presented indicating that it is the spray of the bugs that attracts milichiids to the spider's catch.

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