Spider bondage?

[Culmor]

A recently published research paper http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/c...2/20150957

Well I never. Apparently '...wrapping a female's legs with silk prior to and during copulation' affords the male Pisaurina mira '... more opportunities for sperm transfer'.

Benefits of size dimorphism and copulatory silk wrapping in the sexually cannibalistic nursery web spider, Pisaurina mira
Alissa G. Anderson, Eileen A. Hebets
Published 24 February 2016.DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2015.0957

Abstract

In sexually cannibalistic animals, male fitness is influenced not only by successful mate acquisition and egg fertilization, but also by avoiding being eaten. In the cannibalistic nursery web spider, Pisaurina mira, the legs of mature males are longer in relation to their body size than those of females, and males use these legs to aid in wrapping a female's legs with silk prior to and during copulation. We hypothesized that elongated male legs and silk wrapping provide benefits to males, in part through a reduced likelihood of sexual cannibalism. To test this, we paired females of random size with males from one of two treatment groups—those capable of silk wrapping versus those incapable of silk wrapping. We found that males with relatively longer legs and larger body size were more likely to mate and were less likely to be cannibalized prior to copulation. Regardless of relative size, males capable of silk wrapping were less likely to be cannibalized during or following copulation and had more opportunities for sperm transfer (i.e. pedipalpal insertions). Our results suggest that male size and copulatory silk wrapping are sexually selected traits benefiting male reproductive success.

[madjack]

A recently published research paper http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/c...2/20150957

Well I never. Apparently '...wrapping a female's legs with silk prior to and during copulation' affords the male Pisaurina mira '... more opportunities for sperm transfer'.

Benefits of size dimorphism and copulatory silk wrapping in the sexually cannibalistic nursery web spider, Pisaurina mira
Alissa G. Anderson, Eileen A. Hebets
Published 24 February 2016.DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2015.0957

Abstract

In sexually cannibalistic animals, male fitness is influenced not only by successful mate acquisition and egg fertilization, but also by avoiding being eaten. In the cannibalistic nursery web spider, Pisaurina mira, the legs of mature males are longer in relation to their body size than those of females, and males use these legs to aid in wrapping a female's legs with silk prior to and during copulation. We hypothesized that elongated male legs and silk wrapping provide benefits to males, in part through a reduced likelihood of sexual cannibalism. To test this, we paired females of random size with males from one of two treatment groups—those capable of silk wrapping versus those incapable of silk wrapping. We found that males with relatively longer legs and larger body size were more likely to mate and were less likely to be cannibalized prior to copulation. Regardless of relative size, males capable of silk wrapping were less likely to be cannibalized during or following copulation and had more opportunities for sperm transfer (i.e. pedipalpal insertions). Our results suggest that male size and copulatory silk wrapping are sexually selected traits benefiting male reproductive success.

...and the moral of this story is that if you don't want your sexual partner to eat you after (or even during) sex then its better to tie her up first!

Works for me! 😁

MJ

Ps.... we pay people to do this kind of research? Boggles the mind!

[Like Ra]

Ps.... we pay people to do this kind of research? Boggles the mind!

Not sure if you heard this, but in many countries there is a saying "British scientists found out, that..." 😁

[Culmor]

American scientists in this case, University of Nebraska 😉

[Like Ra]

😁

But: "Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved." Approved by British scientists 😉

[Culmor]

Hey, don't shoot the messenger.

[Like Ra]

Quite the contrary. The messenger was thanked twice 😉