Locomotory activity and the predation strategy of the of the wolf-spider Pardosa amentata (Clerck) (Lycosidae)

Locomotory activity as an aspect of predation strategy was investigated in the wolf-spider Pardosa amentata (Clerck) and it was found that the spider adopts a ‘sit-and-wait’ strategy with periodic changes of site. The frequency of site-change increases with temperature, and the consumption of food at a site increases the duration of stay at that site by a period equivalent to the time taken to ingest the food. Locomotory activity was essentially diurnal and its total duration in a period of 24 h was very low. Even at the highest temperature investigated (15 C) P. amentata is active for only 0·0032% of the day.