Dear all, I work on Indian social spider *(Stedodyphus sarasinorum)*.Often when one wants to test roles of cuticular hydrocarbons in insects and spiders in various contexts, dummies made up of an inert material are made, which has hydrocarbon extract on its surface. Does this really mimic the insect or spider in the context that researcher is looking at? I feel that it is an artificial construct and not really a mimic. Reason being that it is stationery and it highly unlikely that an insect or a spider will be stationery throughout the day/period of study. To cope up with this problem, we can change the location of the mimic frequently (say 7-10 times or more, in a day), so that it could perhaps mimic the movement of the insect/spider under study. What are your thoughts on this procedure? What could an alternative way to make a more natural mimic?
Thanks in advance, -- Chinmay Hemant Joshi Integrated MS student, IISER-Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala,India
