The mating strategy of Phidippus johnsoni (Araneae, Salticidae)

Abstract

1. Each individual male of P. johnsoni can employ any of three mating tactics, depending on the type of female (adult or subadult, inside or outside nest) encountered: (a) adult, outside vision-dependent courtship; (b) adult, inside-vibratory courtship; (c) subadult, inside-cohabitation. 2. Pursuit time (interval between the beginning of courtship and the beginning of copulation) recorded in the laboratory was greater (mean: 16 min, max.: 3 h 44 min) for adult females inside nests than for ones outside nests (2 min, 14 min, P< 0.001; Fig. 2). 3. Cohabitation in the laboratory and in nature usually lasted ca. 1 week. 4. Postmount copulatory latency (period between when male first mounts the female and when copulation begins) was usually longer for females inside nests (mean: 3 min, max.: 34 min) than for females outside nests (0.4 min, 5 min, P< 0.001; Fig. 3). 5. Male persistence (courtship duration when the female did not mate) was greater with females inside (mean: 5 min) than with ones outside nests (3 min, P<0.01).