Spider-Plant Interactions and Glandular Trichome Ecology
Summary
Spider–plant interactions encompass a continuum of relationships in which plants use specialised structures, notably glandular trichomes, to produce sticky exudates and chemicals that deter or trap arthropods, while spiders exploit plant architecture and chemistry for web attachment, prey capture and refuge. Glandular trichomes are epidermal outgrowths that secrete volatile and non-volatile compounds, serving as first-line defences against herbivores but potentially affecting mutualists such as pollinators and natural enemies of pests. Spiders, in turn, may cue into plant secretions when selecting host species, anchoring webs to trichome-rich surfaces to enhance prey interception. At the community level, variation in trichome density and chemistry can reshape arthropod assemblages, modulate multi-predator effects and influence trophic cascades. Insights into these interactions inform sustainable pest management, conservation of biodiversity and the design of bioinspired adhesives, underlining the global relevance of glandular trichomes in terrestrial ecosystems.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent studies have demonstrated that floral stickiness in certain high-elevation Ericaceae functions primarily as a defence against florivores, with glandular trichomes producing resinous coatings and specific volatile blends. Evidence shows that this stickiness can impair pollinator access in some populations, indicating a trade-off between defence and mutualistic services. Chemical analyses of exudates have revealed context-dependent efficacy, highlighting the dual role of trichome secretions in balancing protection and reproduction.
Spider-Plant Interactions and Glandular Trichome Ecology publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in spider-plant interactions and glandular trichome ecology across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Glandular trichome: A specialised epidermal hair that secretes sticky or chemical exudates for plant defence or attraction.
Florivore: An organism that consumes floral tissues, often reducing plant reproductive success.
Mutualism: A symbiotic interaction in which both species involved derive a benefit.
Enemy-free space: A habitat context in which an organism gains protection from predators by associating with another species.
References
- Defensive functions and potential ecological conflicts of floral stickiness. Scientific Reports (2022).
- Host Plant Specificity in Web-Building Spiders. Insects (2023).
- Plant Resources as a Factor Altering Emergent Multi-Predator Effects. PLOS ONE (2015).
- Host Plant Availability and Nest-Site Selection of the Social Spider Stegodyphus dumicola Pocock, 1898 (Eresidae). Insects (2021).
- An orb‐weaver spider exploits an ant–acacia mutualism for enemy‐free space. Ecology and Evolution (2014).
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