Manipulation of araneid spider web architecture by the polysphinctine parasitoid <i><scp>Z</scp>atypota picticollis</i> (<scp>H</scp>ymenoptera: <scp>I</scp>chneumonidae: <scp>P</scp>implinae)

Abstract

Abstract We found that the koinobiont ectoparasitoid wasp Z atypota picticollis is exclusively associated with three orb weaving spiders C yclosa conica , M angora acalypha and Z illa diodia from the family A raneidae. Under the influence of the parasitoid's final instar larva the spiders built a specific web architecture, which differed considerably from the capturing orb web. Manipulated webs of C . conica and M . acalypha lacked the spiral, stabilimentum and central hub, and the radials were reduced in number. The manipulated web of Z . diodia consisted of one strong horizontally oriented thread.