查看文章

The carrying of eggs often renders parents vulnerable to predators due to increased conspicuousness or decreased mobility. Nonetheless, egg–carrying parents can escape from the predators to which they are vulnerable. Previous studies have demonstrated heavy predation by spider–eating jumping spiders (Portia labiata) on egg–carrying spitting spider (Scytodes pallida) females, but little predation on eggless females. If the timing of hatching is phenotypically plastic, then both S. pallida females and their eggs could reduce the risk of predation by hatching early. Hence, this study examines the hatching responses of S. pallida to chemical cues from P. labiata, both in the laboratory and in the field, and addresses the following questions. (i) Do cues from predatory P. labiata influence the hatching traits of S. pallida? (ii) Are the olfactory cues from predators sufficient for predator detection by S. pallida ? (iii) Are …