Ant-eating twigs and stalks: the natural prey of Tmarus and Monaeses (Araneae: Thomisidae) in the Western Palaearctic, analysed by using online-accessible wildlife photography

The diet of the Western Palaearctic species closely related crab spider genera Tmarus Simon, 1875 and Monaeses Thorell, 1869 is only little known. A quantitative analysis images showing spiders with prey, collected from World Wide Web literature, suggests that both mainly prey on ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), while occasionally capturing other arthropods, such as (Araneae). Most depict feeding hold anterior-dorsally at articulation head pronotum. galapagosensis Baert, 2013, Galapagos Islands, known to attack by a bite this region, which, in combination photographic evidence, supports hypothesis representatives similar way. Three two were identified ants, demonstrating probably all least include their diet. In conclusion, are myrmecophagous predators have narrow trophic niche nature. Furthermore, represent interesting model organisms for study specialisation widespread taxonomic clades.