Alopecosa taeniata, (KOCH, 1835)

ALOPECOSA TAENIATA (KOCH, 1835) View in CoL

Czech Republic, Klikvová louka NR, peat bog, 28 May 2013, lgt. P.J., number of copulations = 11

Six males began courtship immediately after being placed in the arena, and five males were latent (0.15– 9.13 min). Courtship was introduced by P_CR, followed by B_C with L_A, alternating with L_ T. After first contact, males slightly altered the manner of courting and began to jump (B_H) towards females, which responded defensively by raising their front legs. In the final phase of courtship, males jumped directly in front of females, and a short wrestle occurred. Subsequently, both spiders were oriented almost vertically, with the ventral side of their bodies facing each other.Thereafter, males climbed onto the females’ backs, which caused the females to fall into catalepsy (C_E). The courtship took 1.31–9.63 min (Q 1 = 2.21 min; Me = 2.93 min; Q 3 = 7.70 min). Copulations (taking 0.80–28.26 min; Q 1 = 1.91 min; Me = 3.61 min; Q 3 = 8.60 min) typically comprised a few palpal insertions (two to 13; Q 1 = 2; Me = 3; Q 3 = 5.5) and a high number of haematodochal expansions (24–107; µ = 58; SE = 8.43). Each insertion was accompanied by one to 33 (µ = 15.6) haematodochal expansions. During copulation, males rapidly quivered their opisthosomata (O_Q). A total of four males were cannibalized after mating.