Early on in this blog I did a report on the Peacock spider that dances and flashes his pretty colours to attract females. I have chosen to do another spider, the Jumping spider, who also dances but instead of colours he uses ‘hypnotism’. It’s not real hypnotism of course but the use of seismic vibrations to essentially mesmerise the female.

In a study conducted on a male jumping spider (Habronattus dossenus), the scientists found that in addition to the ornaments and movements, the males also use a complex repertoire of seismic signals for courtship. Virgin females were paired with either one of two males: they were either muted or non-muted. In this context the term ‘muted’ refers to unable to sense vibration.  

The results showed that females were significantly more likely to mate with a non-muted male to a muted one and that the latency to copulation, and the likely hood of cannibalism (the price for not putting on a good show), were both shorter in the non-muted males. This infers that the use of seismic vibrations is a critical component in the successful courtship of female H. dossenus.

References

Elias D. O, Hebets E. A, Hoy R. R & Mason A. C. (2005). Seismic signals are crucial for male mating success in a visual specialist jumping spider (Araneae: Salticidae). Animal Behaviour, 69(4), 931-938.