Size Assortative Mating and Reproductive Success of the Funnel-Web Spider, Agelena limbata (Araneae; Agelenidae)

Field observations and laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the relation between male size and reproductive success in the funnel-web spider, Agelena limbata Thorell (Agelenidae), in 2 years. In this species, the body size of males is similar to that of females. In the field, size assortative mating occurred in both years. In 1 year, partial correlation coefficient analysis indicates that male cephalothorax width is a beter predictor of the copulated female cephalothorax width than of the date of pairing. In laboratory experiments, females tended to reject courting males that were smaller in relative body size, and males that were larger in relative body size had greater copulation success. Consequently female rejection of smaller courting males has some contribution to size assortative mating. Since larger females deposited more numerous eggs in the field, larger males are expected to have a higher reproductive success.     

Male emergence timing and mating success in the funnel-web spider,Agelena limbata (Araneae: Agelenidae)

Field observations on the relationship between male mating success and emergence timing in the funnel-web spider,Agelena limbata, were conducted.Agelena limbata is an annual species and adult males appear slightly earlier than adult females in July. As males deposit a copulatory plug at the female epigynum after copulation, copulation with virgin females is important to males. The number of copulations in males with virgin females, which strongly correlates with the longevity of males and the number of females that males courted, did not correlate with the emergence timing of males. Early emerged males and females were significantly larger in size than later ones, but the correlation coefficient between the emerged date and the cephalothorax width was not strong. Males that emerged earlier did not have any advantage in copulating with larger and more fecund females. Furthermore, virgin females first copulated on average 7.9 days after their final molt and the mortality rate of adult males increased after the final molt. These factors may favor the smaller degree of protandry in male emergence timing inA. limbata.     

Fine structure of the anterior median eyes of the funnel-web spider Agelena labyrinthica (Araneae: Agelenidae)

Only few electron microscopic studies exist on the structure of the main eyes (anterior median eyes, AME) of web spiders. The present paper provides details on the anatomy of the AME in the funnel-web spider Agelena labyrinthica. The retina consists of two separate regions with differently arranged photoreceptor cells. Its central part has sensory cells with rhabdomeres on 2, 3, or 4 sides, whereas those of the ventral retina have only two rhabdomeres on opposite sides. In addition, the rhabdomeres of the ventral retina are arranged in a specific way: Whereas in the most ventral part they form long tangential rows, those towards the center are detached and are arranged radially. All sensory cells are wrapped by unpigmented pigment cell processes. In agelenid spiders the axons of the sensory cells exit from the middle of the cell body; their fine structure and course through the eye cup is described in detail. In the central part of the retina efferent nerve fibres were found forming synapses along the distal region of the receptor cells. A muscle is attached laterally to each eye cup that allows mainly rotational movements of the eyes. The optical performance (image resolution) of these main eyes with relatively few visual cells is discussed.     

Fine Structural Analysis of the Central Nervous System in the Spider, Achaearanea tepidariorum (Theridiidae: Araneae)

ABSTRACT Central nervous system (CNS) of arachnids is still mysterious and has a rich unexplored field compare to what is known in insects or crustaceans. The CNS of the spider, Achaearanea tepidariorum, consists of a dorsal brain or supraesophageal ganglion and circumesophageal connectives joining it to the subesophageal mass. As the segmentation of the arachnid brain is still under discussion, we classify the brain as a protocerebral and tritocerebral ganglion depending on the evidences which generally accepted. The subesophageal nerve mass underneath the brain is the foremost part of the ventral nerve cord. All of this nerve mass is totally fused together, and forming subesophageal ganglia in this spider. In the brain, the nerve cells are packed in the frontal, dorsal and lateral areas, but are not absent from the posterior and ventral regions. In addition, the nerve cells of the subesophageal and abdominal ganglia are only restricted to the ventral and ventolateral regions. The CNS of the spider, Achaearanea tepidariorum is similar in feature to the Family Araneidae.     

帚状漏斗蛛模式标本的再研究(蜘蛛目:漏斗蛛科)

本文重新描述了保存于湖南省生物研究所的帚状漏斗蛛Agelena scopulata Wang, 1991的模式标本,并提供了鉴别特征及生殖器官形态结构图。     

机敏异漏斗蛛体表超微感受器的扫描电镜观察

为了阐明机敏异漏斗蛛(Allagelena difficilis)对外界刺激的感受机制,利用扫描电镜对其体表的超微感受器进行了观察。机敏异漏斗蛛的体表感受器多样,毛状感受器的种类和数目最多,包括触毛、听毛、味觉毛、毛状刺、羽状毛、棘,广泛分布在体表各部;三明治状感受器分布于蜘蛛腹部背面和腹面以及步足等处;半球状感受器分布于蜘蛛的步足;单裂缝感受器和琴形器也主要分布于步足。     

Spinneret Microstructure of the Silk Spinning Apparatus in the Crab Spider, Misumenops tricuspidatus (Araneae: Thomisidae)

The silk spinning apparatus in the crab spider, Misumenops tricuspidatus was studied with the field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and the main microstructural characteristics of the silk glands are presented. In spite of the fact that the crab spiders do not spin webs to trap a prey, they also have silk apparatus even though the functions are not fully defined. The crab spider, Misumenops tricuspidatus possesses only three types of silk glands which connected through the typical spinning tubes on the spinnerets. The spinning apparatus of Misumenops closely corresponds to that of wandering spiders such as jumping spiders or wolf spiders except some local variations. Anterior spinnerets comprise 2 pairs of the ampullates and 48 (±5) pairs of pyriform glands. Another 2 pairs of ampullate glands and nearly 20 (±3) pairs of aciniform glands were connected on the middle spinnerets. Additional 50 (±5) pairs of the aciniform glands were connected on the posterior spinnerets. The aggregate glands and the flagelliform glands which have the function of sticky capture thread production in orb‐web spiders as well as the tubuliform glands for cocoon production in females were not developed at both sexes of this spider, characteristically.     

蛛网和蛛体挥发物诱导的阴暗拟隙蛛（蜘蛛目：漏斗蛛科）种内选择偏好行为

化学通讯是蜘蛛类群普遍使用的种内和种间信息交流方式,极可能是蜘蛛进化过程中最初用来进行个体之间信息交流的途径。本研究利用双向选择系统,测试了阴暗拟隙蛛(Pireneitega luctuosa)对同种其他个体的蛛网和蛛体挥发物的选择行为,采用卡方检验的统计学方法、利用SPSS 19.0和Origin Pro 8等软件对所测蜘蛛的选择数据进行了分析。结果显示:①阴暗拟隙蛛雄蛛和雌蛛对来自同种异性的蛛网(P 0.001)和蛛体挥发物(P 0.05)均具有显著的趋向性,雌、雄蛛在异性蛛网或蛛体挥发物所在的选择盒表现更长时间的停留、探索、织网等行为;②雄蛛和雌蛛对幼蛛蛛体释放出来的挥发物均表现出显著的回避行为(P 0.05),倾向于远离具有幼蛛挥发物的选择盒;③幼蛛对同种幼蛛和雄蛛的蛛网(P 0.001)以及同种幼蛛的蛛体挥发物(P 0.05)均具有选择偏好性,说明幼蛛倾向于与同种个体接近。我们的研究表明,阴暗拟隙蛛雄蛛、雌蛛及幼蛛的蛛网和蛛体挥发物能诱导种内其他个体的趋向或回避行为,阴暗拟隙蛛幼蛛对同种幼蛛的选择偏好性可能是该种个体在同一地域聚集分布的主要原因。我们的研究从行为学角度证实,阴暗拟隙蛛的蛛网及体表均携带有能够标识其性别和龄期的相关信息化学物质。     

Males' visits to females' webs and female mating receptivity in the spider,Agelena limbata (Araneae: Agelenidae)

Field observation on the reproductive behaviour in the funnelweb spider,Agelena limbata, was conducted. Copulation occurred primarily during the day. Some females copulated with different mates more than once. Females did not copulate immediately after their final moult and exhibited unpredictable mating receptivity patterns. Most males remained in females' webs for less than 1 day and copulated within the day of the visit. Males did not adopt a mating tactic of staying with a juvenile female until she moulted and matured, searching instead for adult female potential mates.     

Copulatory Mechanics in the Funnel-web Spiders Histopona torpidaand Textrix denticulata(Agelenidae,Araneae)

The functional morphology of the copulatory organs of Histopona torpida(C. L. Koch, 1834) and Textrix denticulata(Olivier, 1789), investigated by semi-thin serial sectioning after freeze-fixation of the animals in copula, is described. In H. torpida, the long embolus runs through a precisely defined course in the membraneous genital pouch of the female vulva. The patellar apophysis locks the pedipalp in the female epigastric furrow. In T. denticulatathis is accomplished by the retrolateral tibial apophysis that gets hold at the female scape. In both species the conductor has a locking as well as a guiding function for the embolus. A comparison with previously investigated agelenids shows a surprising diversity in the function of the retrolateral tibial apophysis.     

Fine Structure of Cardiac Sarcomeres in the Black Widow Spider Latrodectus mactans

Fine structural characteristics of the cardiac muscle and its sarcomere organization in the black widow spider, Latrodectus mactans were examined using transmission electron microscopy. The arrangement of cardiac muscle fibers was quite similar to that of skeletal muscle fibers, but they branched off at the ends and formed multiple connections with adjacent cells. Each cell contained multiple myofibrils and an extensive dyadic sarcotubular system consisting of sarcoplasmic reticulum and T‐tubules. Thin and thick myofilaments were highly organized in regular repetitive arrays and formed contractile sarcomeres. Each repeating band unit of the sarcomere had three apparent striations, but the H‐zone and M‐lines were not prominent. Myofilaments were arranged into distinct sarcomeres defined by adjacent Z‐lines with relatively short lengths of 2.0 μm to 3.3 μm. Cross sections of the A‐band showed hexagon‐like arrangement of thick filaments, but the orbit of thin filaments around each thick filament was different from that seen in other vertebrates. Although each thick filament was surrounded by 12 thin filaments, the filament ratio of thin and thick myofilaments varied from 3:1 to 5:1 because thin filaments were shared by adjacent thick filaments.     

A new genus of Coelotinae (Araneae,Agelenidae) from southern China

One new genus of the spider subfamily Coelotinae, Flexicoelotes gen. n., with five new species is described from southern China: Flexicoelotes huyunensis sp. n. (female), Flexicoelotes jiaohanyanensis sp. n. (male and female), Flexicoelotes jinlongyanensis sp. n. (male and female), Flexicoelotes pingzhaiensis sp. n. (female), Flexicoelotes xingwangensis sp. n. (male and female).     

Species-Specificity of Chemical Signals: Silk Source Affects Discrimination in a Wolf Spider (Araneae: Lycosidae)

Female spiders deposit chemical cues that elicit male courtship behavior with silk. These cues are often assumed to be species-specific although male spiders may court in response to chemical cues of closely-related species. We used behavioral assays to test the extent of species discrimination of female chemical cues by male Schizocosa ocreata, a wolf spider (Lycosidae). Discrimination, expressed as relative courtship intensity of males, varied significantly with phylogenetic distance. Males did not discriminate between female cues of conspecifics and a sibling species, S. rovneri. Courtship response was intermediate for another species within the ocreata clade and not different from control for spiders outside the clade. These findings support the sibling species status of S. ocreata and S. rovneri, and also suggest the composition of female chemical signals is conserved across closely related wolf spider species.     

Contact sex signals on web and cuticle of Tegenaria atrica (Araneae,Agelenidae)

Qualitative changes in lipid content and composition were examined on the web and cuticle of Tegenaria atrica females in relation to sexual receptivity. In this spider species, 78 different compounds were detected by gas chromatography in the cuticle extract and 50 in the web; 28 identical compounds were present both on the spider silk and the cuticle of the female. The components were long‐chain aliphatic hydrocarbons, fatty acids, and esters. On the web, sexual receptivity was correlated with changes in eleven polar compounds. On the cuticle, sexual receptivity was correlated with changes in eight polar compounds and 26 hydrocarbons. Bioassays demonstrated that the methanol eluate of webs and females were involved in stimulating the sexual behavior of males. Qualitative and/or quantitative changes in hexadecanoic acid, octadecadienoic acid, octadecenoic acid, methyl palmitate, methyl octadecanoate, and n‐tricosane could play a role in the contact sex signals from web and cuticle of T. atrica. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 40:194–202, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Fine structure of the CNS ganglia in the geometric spider Nephila clavata (Araneae: Nephilidae)

As web spiders usually hang with their head downward, geometrical differences in body position could affect the organization of their central nervous system (CNS). Nevertheless, most of our knowledge of spider's CNS is dependent on what has been revealed from wandering spiders. To fill the gap, we describe here the fine structural organization of the ganglionic neurons and nerves in the geometric orb web spider Nephila clavata. Nerve cells in the supraesophageal ganglion in N. clavata are packed in the frontal, dorsal and lateral regions, but the nerve cells of the subesophageal mass are only restricted to the ventral and ventrolateral regions. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals the fine structural details of the neuroglial cells and the neuronal cells which have a conspicuous Golgi apparatus, rough ER, free ribosomes and well‐developed mitochondria. Comparing fine structural characteristics of the CNS ganglia with those of wandering spiders in most respects, it has been revealed that the geometrical difference may affects to the arrangement of receptors in the central body known as an important association center for web building behavior. In particular, remarkable differences can be detected in the protocerebral area by the extraordinary development of the central body including absence of the globuli and associated mushroom bodies.     

Microstructure of the silk apparatus in the coelotine spider Paracoelotes spinivulva (Araneae: Amaurobiidae)

The microstructural characteristics of the silk‐spinning apparatus and its ecological significance in the coelotine spider Paracoelotes spinivulva were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy, with the goal of understanding the properties and the evolutionary origins of these silk constructs. The silk apparatuses of this spider were composed of four basic types of silk‐spinning spigot (ampullate, pyriform, aciniform and tubuliform), which connected with typical silk glands in the abdominal cavity. Of the three pairs of spinnerets, the posterior pairs were highly elongated along the body axis. Anterior spinnerets comprised two pairs of ampullate glands and approximately 70–80 pairs of pyriform glands in both sexes. Middle spinnerets had one to two pairs of ampullate spigots, three pairs of tubuliform spigots in females, and 50–60 (female) or 80–90 (male) pairs of aciniform spigots. An additional two pairs of tubuliform spigots in females and 70–80 (female) or 100–120 (male) pairs of aciniform spigots were counted on the spinning surfaces of the posterior spinnerets in both sexes. Although the coelotine spiders use their silk to catch prey, P. spinivulva characteristically do not have a typical “triad” spigot, including a flagelliform and two aggregate spigots, for capture thread production.     

中国斯托蛛属2新种记述（蜘蛛目：拟平腹蛛科）

本文记述了分别采自云南省和湖南省的拟平腹蛛科斯托蛛属Storenomorpha 2新种:云南斯托蛛,新种S.yunnan sp.nov.和S.yizhang sp.nov..云南斯托蛛腹部背而两侧斑纹三角形,前后连接成行.粗壮的后胫节突,前端有2个距,其中背距长而有1扭曲.外雌器中隔宽大,交媾腔分为两侧腔,较大,纳精囊位于近生殖厣后缘,交媾管粗,由后向前,在交媾腔前方有1个拐点,扭曲向后与纳精囊相连.宜章斯托蛛腹部背面两侧斑纹4对,彼此分离不连成线,后胫节突和腹距长于背距,插入器鞭状,较云南斯托蛛长,末端超出生殖球一段距离.2新种形态结构有差异.两者以其后跗节突远端2个距的长度明显不同以及腹斑部背斑各异与模式种S.comottoi Simon,1884都不相同.模式标本云南斯托蛛正模、部分副模保存于湖南师范大学(HNU),部分副模将保存于美国加州科学学院(CAS).宜章斯托蛛模式种保存于湖南师范大学(HNU).文中量度单位为mm.     

Silk Production after Mechanical Pulling Stimulation in the Ampullate Silk Glands of the Barn Spider, Araneus cavaticus

Synthesis of protein by the major ampullate silk glands in the barn spider, Araneus cavaticus was stimulated by depleting the storage of silk protein in the ampulla by mechanically pulling fiber from the spigot. After this treatment, fine structural changes of the glandular epithelium during silk production were examined using light and transmission electron microscopes. In the process of rapid production, major secretory silk was synthesized at the tail region via rER of glandular epithelial cells, and was transported into the ampulla region. The mature secretory product in glandular epithelium appears almost spherical vacuoles which were grown up by fusion with the surrounding small vesicles including the secretory silk. Unlike to a typical process of the secretion, the ampullate silk of tail region seems to bypass either concentrating or packaging steps by the Golgi apparatus. However there's no doubt that the Golgi apparatus also play an important role in the secretory process of the ampulla region. After mechanical pulling stimulation, both epithelia of ampulla and tail regions appeared as a thinner layer of columnar cells with less definitive cell membrane. There are few secretory droplets within these cells, thus causing this region to stain much lighter. It is obvious that the cell loses part of its cytoplasm in this process, and disorganization of the secretory product occurs when it is extruded from the cells by a apocrine release.     

Fine Structure of the Ovarian Development in the Orb-web Spider, Nephila clavata

ABSTRACT Fine structural changes of the ovary and cellular composition of oocyte with respect to ovarian development in the orb-web spider, Nephila clavata were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Unlike the other arthropods, the ovary of this spider has only two kinds of cells-follicle cells and oocytes. During the ovarian maturation, each oocyte bulges into the body cavity and attaches to surface of the elongated ovarian epithelium through its peculiar short stalk attachments. In the cytoplasm of the developing oocyte two main types of yolk granules, electron-dense proteid yolk and electron-lucent lipid yolk granules, are compactly aggregated with numerous glycogen particles. The cytoplasm of the developing oocyte contains a lot of ribosomes, poorly developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and lipid droplets. These cell organelles, however, gradually degenerate by the later stage of vitellogenesis. During the active vitellogenesis stage, the proteid yolk is very rapidly formed and the oocyte increases in size. However, the micropinocytosis invagination or pinocytotic vesicles can scarcely be recognized, although the microvilli can be found in some space between the oocyte and ovarian epithelium. During the vitellogenesis, the lipid droplets in the cytoplasm of oocytes increase in number, and become abundant in the peripheral cytoplasm close to the stalks. On completion of the yolk formation the vitelline membrane, which is composed of an inner homogeneous electron-lucent component and an outer layer of electron-dense component is formed around the oocyte.