Associations of Spiders of the GenusPeucetia(Oxyopidae) with Plants Bearing Glandular Hairs

Two common South American species of lynx spiders,Peucetia rubrolineataandP. flava(Oxyopidae), were surveyed on three localities in southeastern Brazil to determine plant choice. Both species were found to be associated with plants bearing glandular trichomes. A literature review and complementary data show that tenPeucetiaspecies are associated with up to 55 plant species bearing glandular trichomes in at least 20 distinct vegetation types (phytophysiognomies) in more than 36 localities in the Neotropical, Neartic, Afrotropical, and Paleartic regions. The main plant families used by the spiders were Solanaceae, Asteraceae, and Melastomataceae. The specialization of thePeucetiaspecies for plants bearing glandular trichomes may have evolved because insects adhered to these sticky structures may be used as prey by the spiders.