Mecaphesa schlingeri

(Schick, 1965)

Mecaphesa schlingeri is a of crab spider in the Thomisidae, described by Schick in 1965. It is known from the United States, where it has been documented as a on the sticky plant Madia elegans (tarweed). The species is one of several predators that can navigate the resinous, hooked trichomes of tarweed to feed on trapped insect carrion. Research indicates its presence on tarweed plants increases when dead insects are experimentally added, suggesting it responds to carrion availability.

Mecaphesa schlingeri by Don Loarie. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Mecaphesa schlingeri: /ˌmɛkəˈfiːsə ˈʃlɪŋɡəri/

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Images

Habitat

Documented from tarweed (Madia elegans) plants in California; tarweed occurs in open, dry and flowers mid to late summer. The spider's ability to navigate sticky plant surfaces suggests specialized adaptations for movement on plants with resinous or hooked trichomes.

Distribution

United States. GBIF records indicate occurrences in the USA, with research focused on in Solano County, California (Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve area).

Seasonality

Active during tarweed's flowering period, approximately June through September in California.

Diet

; has been observed feeding on dead insects (carrion) trapped by tarweed's sticky hairs. Research documented the feeding on experimentally placed Drosophila fruit flies on Madia elegans plants.

Host Associations

Madia elegans - /prey siteTarweed; sticky plant whose trapped insect carrion attracts this

Behavior

Can navigate sticky plant surfaces that trap other insects. Responds to increased carrion availability on plants, with increasing 76-450% when dead insects are experimentally added to plants. Part of a suite associated with tarweed that reduces herbivore damage to the plant.

Ecological Role

in a plant-mediated ; contributes to indirect plant defense by consuming carrion on tarweed, which increases predator abundance and reduces herbivory by caterpillars (Heliothodes diminutiva).

Similar Taxa

Mecaphesa asperataAnother Mecaphesa found on flowers in similar ; M. schlingeri distinguished by association with tarweed's sticky surfaces and geographic distribution
Peucetia sp.Green lynx spider, another documented on tarweed; differs in (Oxyopidae) and hunting strategy

More Details

Research significance

M. schlingeri was part of a 2013 study (Krimmel & Pearse, Letters) that demonstrated 'tourist trap' ecology—where sticky plants capture insect passers-by as carrion, attracting that indirectly defend the plant. This was the first documentation of plants capturing food from the external environment to support predators.

Taxonomic note

The epithet 'schlingeri' honors Evert I. Schlinger, an entomologist known for work on Acroceridae (small-headed flies) and other Diptera.