Female sex pheromone of a wandering spider (Cupiennius salei): identification and sensory reception

Females of the wandering spider Cupiennius salei attach a sex pheromone to their dragline. Males encountering the female dragline examine the silk thr ead with their pedipalps and then typically initiate reciprocal vibratory c ourtship with the sexual partner. The female pheromone was identified as (S )-1,1'-dimethyl citrate. The male pheromone receptive sensory cells are loc ated in tip pore sensilla and respond to touching the sensillum tip with fe male silk or pieces of filter paper containing the synthetic pheromone.