Jumping spider courtship
Sep 22, 2018 18:29:17 #
I have been obsessed with insects and spiders as long as I can remember. When I was about 12, I once had both male and female bold jumping spiders (Phidippus audax). Thinking that it would be fun to watch them mate, I set up a viewing area in my bedroom/lab, and released them into it. Upon seeing the female, the male did this remarkable leg-waving and palp bobbing dance, and hesitatingly advanced toward her. The female also advanced toward the male. This was exciting! The male continued to dance. The female continued to move toward the male. The male started to back away. The female kept coming. The male turned to run, but the female… murdered him. I felt terribly shocked and guilty about that.
I was only recently in possession of another pair of bold jumpers. Would history repeat itself? I certainly was not going to be so naïve! First I made a little box out of microscope cover slips, and put the female into it. Then I used my camera to record events while the female was presented to the male jumper. The following several pictures document the results. Look! She waved back! But she soon tried to move away from the eager male. This was at least a sign that she was not of a murderous nature.
Following that, with heart thumping, I later chose to let them meet without the ‘shark cage’. Again, the male danced, and the female even waved back, seem interested, but then she would then turn to run. This scenario was repeated exactly like this over a few days of testing. I have no idea why she was not interested. Perhaps she was already mated. Or she was not ready.
But at least there was no blood.
I was only recently in possession of another pair of bold jumpers. Would history repeat itself? I certainly was not going to be so naïve! First I made a little box out of microscope cover slips, and put the female into it. Then I used my camera to record events while the female was presented to the male jumper. The following several pictures document the results. Look! She waved back! But she soon tried to move away from the eager male. This was at least a sign that she was not of a murderous nature.
Following that, with heart thumping, I later chose to let them meet without the ‘shark cage’. Again, the male danced, and the female even waved back, seem interested, but then she would then turn to run. This scenario was repeated exactly like this over a few days of testing. I have no idea why she was not interested. Perhaps she was already mated. Or she was not ready.
But at least there was no blood.
She: 8 legs. Fangs. Might want to murder.
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He: Also 8 legs and fangs. But a lover not a fighter.
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Who is she?
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Helllloooooo!
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This is a good sign!
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Is she into me?
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No. Guess not!
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Sep 22, 2018 18:30:01 #
Sep 22, 2018 18:51:58 #
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Sep 22, 2018 18:54:32 #
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
i found a silk home i thought might have a jumper in it,i brought it home to see what kind i might have.i put it in with my pet jumper (just for a 1 minute) when i went to get it out i found my pet jumper sucking the juices out of a smaller one.i felt pretty guilty as i looked into the eyes of the poor jumper The male turned to run, but the female… murdered him. I felt terribly shocked and guilty about that.
Sep 22, 2018 20:53:06 #
tinusbum wrote:
i found a silk home i thought might have a jumper in it,i brought it home to see what kind i might have.i put it in with my pet jumper (just for a 1 minute) when i went to get it out i found my pet jumper sucking the juices out of a smaller one.i felt pretty guilty as i looked into the eyes of the poor jumper
That is a grim lesson. Jumpers will make a silken shroud for eggs but they also do that when they want to molt, or to just conserve water.
Sep 23, 2018 03:35:25 #
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
Oh dear, but there is a lesson here for all the boys. If they learned to read the mood of us ladies their lives would instantly become a lot less stressful .......The male turned to run, but the female… murdered him........
.......I have no idea why she was not interested.......
.......But at least there was no blood.
.......I have no idea why she was not interested.......
.......But at least there was no blood.
Good post Mark 
Sep 23, 2018 09:24:31 #
EnglishBrenda wrote:
Oh dear, but there is a lesson here for all the boys. If they learned to read the mood of us ladies their lives would instantly become a lot less stressful Good post Mark
Good post Mark My experience at 12 has overshadowed all of my relationships with the ladies.
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Sep 23, 2018 17:52:31 #
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
Ha ha, but I don't believe it.My experience at 12 has overshadowed all of my relationships with the ladies.
Sep 24, 2018 09:35:43 #
Sep 24, 2018 21:48:03 #
Sep 26, 2018 06:44:30 #
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Sep 30, 2018 14:05:05 #
Oct 3, 2018 16:13:36 #
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