Location: Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research
Project Number: 2034-22000-014-002-T
Project Type: Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: May 1, 2019
End Date: Sep 30, 2022
Objective:
Record and characterize black widow spider communication signals by video and laser vibrometry and perform bioassays to evaluate spider response.
Approach:
1. Identify and characterize potential vibratory signals used in territorial rivalry between female black widow spiders (Year 1).
2. Evaluate female black widow spider response to playback of rivalry signals in laboratory and field conditions (Year 2).
3. Determine the vibrational threshold (frequency by intensity) for triggering female black widow spider escape response from insecticide applications (Years 1 and 2).
4. Improve feasibility, robustness, and usefulness of vibration measurements in black widow spider webs, by using video vibrometry methods (Years 1 and 2).
