Abstract
In spiders, sex pheromones are often associated with silk produced by females, and function in mate attraction, recognition, and evaluation. Silk-bound pheromones typically elicit courtship behaviour in web-building spiders. Here we (1) describe courtship interactions of Steatoda grossa males with virgin or mated females, and (2) show that silk and methanol extracts of silk produced by virgin females trigger courtship behaviour (silk production) by males, whereas silk of mated females does not. Our results indicate that (1) virgin females produce a silk-bound sex pheromone, (2) males discriminate between virgin and mated females based on silk cues, and (3) male silk likely functions in sexual communication.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Robb Bennett for confirming our identification of the spiders and two anonymous reviewers for constructive comments on the manuscript. The research was supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada-Industrial Research Chair to G. G., with Scotts Canada as the industrial sponsor.
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Scott, C., Gerak, C., McCann, S. et al. The role of silk in courtship and chemical communication of the false widow spider, Steatoda grossa (Araneae: Theridiidae). J Ethol 36, 191–197 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-017-0539-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-017-0539-3