Nelson, X.J.Pratt, A.J.Cheseto, X.Torto, B.Jackson, R.R.2014-10-222014-10-222012Nelson, X.J., Pratt, A.J., Cheseto, X., Torto, B., Jackson, R.R. (2012) Mediation of a plant-spider association by specific volatile compounds. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 38(9), pp. 1081-1092.http://hdl.handle.net/10092/9735Evarcha culicivora, an East African jumping spider (Salticidae), is the only spider for which there is evidence of innate olfactory affinity for particular plant species. E. culicivora also actively chooses as preferred prey the females of Anopheles mosquitoes, and both sexes of Anopheles are known to visit plants for nectar meals. Here we identify compounds present in the headspace of one of these species in Kenya, Lantana camara, and then use 11 of these compounds in olfactometer experiments. Our findings show that three terpenes ((E)-β-caryophyllene, α-humulene and 1,8 cineole) can be discriminated by, and are salient to, E. culicivora. The spiders experienced no prior training with plants or the compounds we used. This is the first experimental demonstration of specific phytochemicals being innately attractive to a spider, a group normally characterized as predators.enplant-arthropod interactionsEvarcha culicivoraLantana camaraSalticidaesensory ecologyplant volatilesJournal ArticleFields of Research::31 - Biological sciences::3109 - Zoology::310913 - Invertebrate biologyFields of Research::31 - Biological sciences::3101 - Biochemistry and cell biology::310101 - Analytical biochemistryFields of Research::31 - Biological sciences::3109 - Zoology::310901 - Animal behaviourhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-012-0175-x