MECHANISMS OF THE FORMATION OF TERRITORIAL AGGREGATIONS OF THE BURROWING WOLF SPIDER GEOLYCOSA-XERA-ARCHBOLDI MCCRONE (ARANEAE, LYCOSIDAE)

It has long been proposed that aggregations of Geolycosa wolf spiders form by limited dispersal from the maternal burrow. In this study I te st for conspecific attraction and limited dispersal to account for the formation and maintenance of aggregations of Geolycosa xera archboldi McCrone, endemic to the scrub habitats of Highlands County in central Florida, USA. I found no evidence for conspecific attraction in eithe r field tests or observations of natural relocation. I did confirm tha t hatchlings disperse a short distance from the maternal burrow. The d istance hatchlings disperse is influenced by territorial interactions with siblings. Older spiders which were experimentally released also e xhibited limited dispersal.