What dictates the composition of a wolf spider's menu based on local resources?
It consumes what is most abundant and easiest to catch in its immediate environment
Wolf spiders exhibit a high degree of local adaptation, which means their dietary intake is strongly influenced by the availability of resources within their specific habitat. In any given locale, the spider's menu will skew toward the prey items that are both the most numerous and the least difficult for the spider to successfully capture at that time. For example, a temporary localized population boom of small darkling beetles will lead to a higher frequency of beetle consumption in that area until the abundance shifts. This behavioral flexibility ensures their survival across varied habitats by constantly adjusting their hunting focus to the most accessible protein source encountered on the ground.
