R. S. Pfannenstiel, S. Greenburg, R. Coleman, and C. Suh. USDA-ARS, 2413 E. Hwy 83, Weslaco, TX 78596
Cursorial spiders, dominated by the anyphaenid, Hibana futilis have been demonstrated to be consistently important predators of lepidopteran eggs in south Texas cotton. However, these predators are generalists and while it is suspected that they contribute to the natural control of other pests, their prey range is unknown. Here, we evaluate the susceptibility of various stages of the cotton fleahopper, Pseudatomoscelis seriatus, and a Creontiades sp. to predation by 2nd instars, 4th instars and adult females of H. futilis. Both mirids were readily attacked and fed upon by the spiders, although smaller spiders were less able or interested in attacking potential prey that were large relative to themselves.