Experience leads to preference: experienced females prefer brush-legged males in a population of syntopic wolf spiders

Diet influences mate choice selectivity in adult female wolf spiders

“…We use spiders from a recently discovered mixed population in Mississippi, U.S.A., where both brush-legged (similar to S. ocreata) and non-ornamented (similar to S. rovneri) males are found syntopically. In this mixed population, both behavioral as well as mitochondrial data suggest that these spiders encompass a freely interbreeding population (Hebets & Vink, 2007). We found that diet influenced development time, size and body condition.…”

“…We collected immature male and female spiders from rock and leaf litter substrates on March 19 and 21, 2005, at the University of Mississippi's greenhouse in Oxford, MS, U.S.A. Spiders at this locality occur as a mixed population of brush-legged and non-ornamented male forms, which resemble Schizocosa ocreata and S. rovneri, respectively, in morphology and behavior (Hebets & Vink, 2007). While mitochondrial sequence data distinguishes all other Schizocosa species examined to date, it does not distinguish between brush-legged and non-ornamented males from this mixed population (Hebets & Vink, 2007).…”

“…The genus encompasses approximately 23 described species in North America and harbors tremendous variation both among and within species with respect to male secondary sexual traits and behaviors as well as female mate choice (Stratton, 2005). Because of their abundance and diversity, considerable research has focused on the evolution of male secondary sexual traits and female choice among various Schizocosa species (Hebets, 2003;Hebets, 2005;Stratton, 2005;Hebets et al, 2006;Hebets and Vink, 2007;Uetz and Norton, 2007; reviewed in Uetz & Roberts, 2002). Despite the plethora of studies focusing on Schizocosa, however, there is only one study to date that has examined the influence of diet on life history and secondary sexual traits.…”

Enigmatic ornamentation eases male reliance on courtship performance for mating success

“…For example, recent evidence has shown that male S. ocreata use their fangs during sexual encounters with females, sometimes resulting in female hemolymph loss ( Johns et al 2009), highlighting a significant cost to mating with aggressive males. Sexual aggressiveness has also been linked to foreleg ornamentation in at least one population of Schizocosa, with more ornamented males engaging in more sexually aggressive behavior (Hebets & Vink 2007). Unfortunately, this study did not quantify female startle responses, but female startling in response to aggressive courtship may help explain why highly ornamented S. stridulans males that court at a high rate are not the most successful males.…”

“…Despite the fact that female wolf spiders are known to cannibalize males (Hebets, 2003;Persons and Uetz, 2005;Wilder and Rypstra, 2008), they will also jump away in response to aggressive male courtship (E.A.H., personal observation). Mature male Schizocosa will continuously attempt to mount unreceptive females (Hebets, 2003;Hebets and Vink, 2007), and sexual interactions in wolf spiders can frequently be aggressive Johns et al, 2009;Wilgers et al, 2009). For example, recent evidence has shown that male S. ocreata use their fangs during sexual encounters with females, sometimes resulting in female hemolymph loss ( Johns et al 2009), highlighting a significant cost to mating with aggressive males.…”