Science Cartoon on "Veg diet of spiders"

Veg diet of spiders

        Spiders, a group of predominantly insectivorous predators, occasionally use plant food to supplement their insect prey. Martin Nyffeler, Eric J. Olson and William O.C. Symondson reviewed the literature and found that using plant as food by spiders are common. After reviewing 95 reports they concluded more than 60% spiders belongs to ten families are using plants in their diet. Spiders feed on a wide diversity of plant-derived products including floral nectar, extrafloral nectar, stigmatic exudate, plant sap, honeydew, seeds, Beltian bodies, Müllerian bodies and pollen (originating from very different plant types such as coniferous and deciduous trees, herbaceous plants and shrubs, annual weeds, grasses, climbing plants, orchids, carnivorous plants, and ferns).However, why spiders are including plants in their diet and what is the effect of herbal diet on physiology of spiders are still unknown and area to be explored.

Present cartoon is based on above research.

Journal Reference: Nyffeler et al (2016), Plant-eating by spiders, Journal of Arachnology, 44(1):15-27  http://dx.doi.org/10.1636/P15-45.1

 

 

Scientoon on "Spider can swim also"

 Scientoon on "Spider can swim also"

Common spiders can fly using a technique called 'ballooning'. This involves catching the wind by using their silk. Ballooning spiders are estimated to move up to 30 km per day when wind conditions are suitable, helping in their quest for new habitats and resources. The interesting fact discovered is they can swim or float in water (both marine as well as fresh water). For the first time, experts at the University of Nottingham have described how spiders use their legs as rudders and propel themselves across the water with the help of the wind.
Here I am presenting Science Cartoon based on the above research.
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