Analysis of courtship success in the funnel-web spider Agelenopsis aperta

Laboratory studies of the funnel-web spider Agelenopsis aperta were conduct ed to determine the action patterns displayed by males and females during c ourtship, and to identify the elements of courtship associated with subsequ ent acceptance by the female. When placed on a female's web, a male usually went through a courtship sequence that included lateral swaying of his abd omen and flexing the web with his walking legs. These displays were punctua ted with rest periods of varying duration. In all successful matings, femal es entered a cataleptic state in which they collapsed and appeared unconsci ous. In some courtships, males began mating with the female immediately aft er inducing catalepsis. But in most successful courtships (79%) males aband oned the cataleptic female and resumed the courtship sequence. Successful m ales were more active than unsuccessful males during the early stages of co urtship. Successful males also tended to sway their abdomens with higher fr equency than unsuccessful males during the courtship dance. We hypothesize that females are selecting males on the basis of vibratory performance duri ng courtship, but that other Factors, including chemical communication, may also play a role in mate selection.