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Relationship between spider traits and individual-based trophic networks attributes of Neoscona oaxacensis (Araneidae) webs in Mexican maize crops

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Relationship between spider traits and individual-based trophic networks attributes of Neoscona oaxacensis (Araneidae) webs in Mexican maize crops

ABSTRACT

Spiders are common generalist predators in agroecosystems, contributing to natural pest control through diverse trophic interactions. However, their trophic role depends on how individual traits influence prey selection and network structure. Using standardised transect walks, direct observation, and prey collection from webs, we investigated individual-based trophic networks of the orb-weaving spider Neoscona oaxacensis (Keyserling, 1864) (Araneae: Araneidae) in maize fields in Mexico, focusing on the influence of body size and web position on trophic structure. Spiders consumed a wide range of prey spanning nine orders and 65 taxa, with Coleoptera and Orthoptera dominating the diet. Notably, N. oaxacensis frequently preyed on Sphenarium purpurascens Charpentier, 1842 (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae), a major maize pest, highlighting its potential agricultural importance. The interaction networks were sparsely connected, highly modular, and lacked nestedness, suggesting heterogeneous prey use among individuals, with groups of spiders focusing on small subsets of prey. Larger spiders had higher betweenness centrality, acting as more central nodes in the metaweb; whereas web height was linked to dietary specialisation, spiders from higher strata preyed upon fewer species, yet these prey were commonly shared across individuals, indicating a generalist feeding pattern. Overall, N. oaxacensis exhibited marked individual trophic heterogeneity, driven by morphological and spatial traits. The combination of low network connectivity, strong modularity, and trait-dependent prey use suggests that individual differentiation probably enhances the stability and functional resilience of trophic networks in agricultural landscapes.

Quijano-Cuervo, L. G., & del-Val, E. (2025). Relationship between spider traits and individual-based trophic networks attributes of Neoscona oaxacensis (Araneidae) webs in Mexican maize crops. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2025.2605589