Mating and egg-laying behavior of Hasarius adansoni (Araneae: Salticidae) and the influence of sexual selection

Abstract

Jumping spiders perform multi-modal displays during courtship and this has been used to study sexual selection and mate choice. However, studies have focused on only a few groups of spiders. Here we describe for the first time the breeding behavior of the tropical jumping spider Hasarius adansoni (Audouin, 1826). Animals were collected in the field and reared in the laboratory until adulthood. We took male body measurements, paired couples in mating trials, and then collected subsequent clutches. We confirmed the presence of a multi-modal display with visual and vibratory signals (tremulations) by the males. Females responded with their own tremulations and occasionally a receptive posture. Otherwise, they avoid mating by attacking or running away from the male. No measured male morphological attributes were important for male mating success and future studies should focus on other morphological measurements to understand how the mate choice process functions in this species. Multiple matings were common and females laid numerous clutches while enclosed in silk cocoons. Number of young per clutch decreased over the course of laying bouts.