PATTERN AND DURATION OF COPULATION IN WOLF SPIDERS (ARANEAE, LYCOSIDAE)

The temporal patterns of insertion of male palps, expansion of the hem atodocha and duration of copulation are reported for 10 species of Sch izocosa Chamberlin 1904, three species of Rabidosa Roewer 1955, one sp ecies of Gladicosa Brady 1986, one species of Hogna Simon 1885, two sp ecies of Isohogna Roewer 1960, one species of Trochosa C.L. Koch 1848, one species of Geolycosa Montgomery 1904, two species of Arctosa C.L. Koch 1848, three species of Alopecosa Simon 1885 and six species of P ardosa C.L. Koch 1847. In all species of Schizocosa examined so far, m ales showed a pattern composed of a series of insertions with one palp followed by a switch to the opposite side and a separate series of in sertions with the other palp. During each insertion there was a single expansion of the hematodocha. These copulations generally lasted from 1-4 hours. Males of Gladicosa bellamyi (Gertsch & Wallace 1937) and H ogna georgicola (Walckenaer 1837) likewise showed a Series of insertio ns on one side followed by insertions on the other side, with a single expansion of the hematodocha with each insertion. Males of Arctosa li ttoralis (Hentz 1844), A. sanctaerosae Gertsch & Wallace 1935 and Geol ycosa rogersi Wallace 1942 each copulated by alternating palps with a single insertion and single expansion of the hematodocha. The alternat ing pattern of insertions was also seen in Rabidosa rabida (Walckenaer 1837), R. hentzi (Banks 1904) and R. punctullata (Hentz 1844). Isohog na lenta (Hentz 1844) (a single individual) alternated between multipl e expansions of the hematodocha during one insertion and alternating s ides with a single insertion and expansion per side. A second member o f Isohogna showed a single insertion on one side with multiple expansi ons of the hematodocha. Comparisons with published descriptions of cop ulatory pattern suggest that Schizocosa and Trochosa Koch 1848 may for m a monophyletic clade in the ''Trochosa group'' of the Lycosinae. The copulations that involved multiple insertions of the male's palp on o ne side with a single expansion per insertion were long copulations (1 -4 hours). This may provide for multiple opportunities of in copula co urtship. Arctosa copulations were very short (18-46 sec), while the Ge olycosa copulations were relatively short (5-7 min). Thus, the copulat ions of the burrowing spiders were much shorter than the nonburrowing spiders.