PREY PREFERENCES OF THE GREEN LYNX SPIDER: A STUDY OF ARACHNID PREDATION

Аннотация

The green lynx spider (Peucetia viridana), a visually hunting, web-free arachnid, plays a significant role as a predator in diverse ecosystems. This study investigates the prey preferences of P. viridana to understand its feeding ecology and potential as a biological control agent. Field observations were conducted in natural habitats, recording predation events and prey species composition. The results revealed that P. viridana preys primarily on insects, with a marked preference for Diptera and Hymenoptera, followed by Lepidoptera and Orthoptera. Prey selection appeared influenced by prey size, abundance, and mobility, with larger, easily captured prey preferred. This predator demonstrated a broad dietary spectrum, indicating opportunistic feeding behavior while showing potential for regulating pest populations. The findings highlight the ecological significance of P. viridana and contribute to understanding its role in maintaining ecosystem balance. KEYWORDS Green lynx spider, Peucetia viridana, Arachnid predation, Prey preferences, Feeding ecology, Biological control, Predator-prey interactions.