Alopecosa sulzeri, (PAVESI, 1873)

ALOPECOSA SULZERI (PAVESI, 1873) View in CoL

Czech Republic, Komárkova lesostep, stony forest steppe, 6 May 2011, 17 May 2012, lgt. P.J., P.D., number of copulations = 8

Males typically began courting immediately, and only three males were latent (0.93, 1.43 and 3.05 min). The courtship of A. sulzeri was not continuous (as in other Alopecosa species) but was performed in cycles composed of the same courtship elements, which intensified in each cycle. Each cycle began with P_CI and graduated in intensifying B_JS. The front legs were raised (L_W), with palps and body touching the substrate (B_D). Each cycle was followed by a few seconds of inactivity. Average courtship duration was 3.97 min (SE = 1.01 min). Females often fell into catalepsy (C_E) without being in physical contact with males, and they lay on their side before mating in some cases (N = 4). Copulations were extremely short, taking 2–9 s (µ = 4.8 s; SE = 0.74 s), always with one palpal insertion on each side; each insertion was accompanied by a single haematodochal expansion. The opisthosomal quivering (O_Q) of the males was very rapid.