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Mate-odour identification by both sexes of Evarcha culicivora, an East African jumping spider.

Fiona R Cross1, Robert R Jackson

  • 1School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag, Christchurch, New Zealand. frc16@student.canterbury.ac.nz

Behavioural Processes
|May 12, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Evarcha culicivora spiders use scent to find mates. Both male and female spiders prefer opposite-sex odors, but females lose this preference after mating.

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Area of Science:

  • Ethology
  • Behavioral Ecology
  • Arachnology

Background:

  • Evarcha culicivora spiders exhibit unique courtship behaviors where both sexes actively court and make mate-choice decisions.
  • Understanding olfactory cues is crucial for comprehending mate recognition and selection in salticid spiders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the capability of Evarcha culicivora spiders to identify potential mates using olfactory cues alone.
  • To determine if the mating status of either sex influences olfactory-based mate recognition.

Main Methods:

  • Olfactometer experiments were conducted to assess olfactory preferences of test spiders.
  • Test spiders were exposed to odors from conspecifics of the opposite sex, same sex, juveniles, or a control.
  • Preference was measured by the time spent in the vicinity of different odor sources.

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Main Results:

  • Both male and female spiders spent significantly more time near odors of opposite-sex conspecifics compared to same-sex individuals, juveniles, or no odor.
  • This preference for opposite-sex odors persisted regardless of the age of the test or source spiders (post-maturity).
  • Mated female spiders no longer showed a preference for male odors.

Conclusions:

  • Evarcha culicivora utilizes olfactory cues for identifying potential mates, with both sexes showing a preference for opposite-sex odors.
  • The mating status of females significantly alters their olfactory-based mate preference, suggesting a role in post-mating behavior.