Variability in the responses of jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) to sex pheromones

Abstract

Salticid males often court females inside nests with vibratory displays and discriminate between the nests of adult males and females, presumably on the basis of pheromones females leave on their nests. Male responsiveness to females’ nests, however, is generally variable. An experiment using five species indicated that individual males fluctuate over time in how responsive they are to female’s nests and that this, rather than variation among males or nests, accounts for variability in test results.

Keywords:

• Spiders
• Araneae
• Salticidae
• sex pheromones