A vertebrate, the fence skink, is a common but relatively low-quality prey for an invertebrate predator, the redback spider

Many predators feed on a diversity of prey items and the traits these can affect their quality for predators. While invertebrate most often other invertebrates, numerous studies have documented spiders predatory arthropods feeding vertebrates. The goal this study was to examine frequency fence skinks, Cryptoblepharus virgatus, in diet redback spiders, Latrodectus hasselti, measure amounts ratio nutrients that extracted from skinks compared representative high-quality (i.e., locust) low-quality beetle) arthropod prey. In field surveys, represented 8% individual 17% biomass captured by spiders. trials, consumed lower total dry mass lipid when relative both lowest protein beetles. terms efficiency, were efficient at extracting mass, locusts least (lipid) or beetles (dry protein). There also differences trace element consumption between versus locusts. These results suggest are relatively urban is likely consequence abundance habitat, similar microhabitat selection indiscriminate predation Further work needed vertebrates invertebrates if such as predator mode affects