Group structure and time budgets of Argyrodes antipodiana (Araneae, Theridiidae), a kleptoparasitic spider from New Zealand

A population of Argyrodes antipodiana, a kleptoparasitic spider, was investigated at Te Aroha (North Island, New Zealand) by marking individuals and web sites. Time budget, movements, and social units are discussed. A. antipodiana is most active at night, consistent with the nocturnal habits of its primary host, Eriophora pustulosa. A. antipodiana clusters around the webs of individual hosts, but the groups formed thereby sometimes change because individuals move from web to web.