Courtship, Mating Behavior And Pheromone Research Of Funnel-web Spiders (Agelenidae)

The funnel-web spider family Agelenidae is a transitional group from underground to the air, viewing from evolution, which has potential value in discussing the evolution and speciation of spiders. The diversity of funnel-web spiders is high in China. But the research on Chinese Age lenidae almost all focused on taxonomy. The study of ecology and behavior is only a little. Chemical communications play an important role in the exchange of information in spiders. Some research shows that male and female spiders using chemical signals to communicate during copulation. But the identification and chemical structure of spider pheromone are still lack of in-depth and extensive research. In this article, we record and describe four funnel-web spider’s field and indoor mating behavior, and compared the differences and similarities among them. And then, we extracted, analyzed and identified the components of sex pheromone from two funnel-web spiders. The detail results are as follows:1. Courtship and mating behaviorof four kinds of funnel-web spiders.By means of field observation on Agelena silvatica and Allagelena difficilis, while indoor observation on Aterigena aculeata and Pireneitega luctuosa’s courtship and mating behavior, we described the mating process of four spiders, and analyzed the sequences of actions comparatively. Courtship behavior of Agelena silvatica and Allagelena difficilis are more complex, containing a variety of movement and vibrations. Aterigena aculeata and Allagelena difficilis are lack of courtship behavior, which get into mating stage directly with sex pheromone excitation. In mating period, female of these four spiders are in a coma obviously. The mating time of Agelena silvatica and Pireneitega luctuosa are very long, up to8hours. The mating time of Allagelena difficilis is relatively shorter, while the time of Aterigena aculeata is the shortest, no more than20minutes.2. Sex pheromone of Aterigena aculeata and Pireneitega luctuosa.A new method, air injection and silk extraction were used for the collection of sex pheromone. And then the solution was enriched, analyzed and determined using GC-MS. Comparing the sample of different stages and verified by mature male spider behavior experiments, we ultimately proved squalene is sex pheromone of both two spiders. This is the first time that discovered two spiders with the same sex pheromone.