Diel rhythms in locomotor activity and antipredator behavior in the subsocial spider Anelosimus studiosus (Araneae: Theridiidae)

Spider behaviors such as web-building, foraging, and predator avoidance are likely to be more advantageous during certain periods of the day due to changing intensities of risks over the diel cycle. As a result, individuals benefit from performing such behaviors preferentially during appropriate times of the day. We hypothesize that diel rhythms in behavior optimally balance the relative risks of predation and starvation.  We will present data on diel/circadian activity patterns in Anelosimus studiosus, as well as diel rhythms in antipredator behavior.  We consider these data with respect to daily fluctuations in natural predator densities.