In order to avoid a gruesome end, male specimens of a spider species perform a hyperfast leap immediately after the act of mating.
If human sexual intercourse does not end too badly, in general, it is not the same for Philoponella prominens. At this spider, the coupling can end with the death of the male specimen, the latter being devoured by the female. Well, unless male manages to escape in time…
Cannibal spiders
What would you do if your life was threatened after every report? Obviously, the male specimens of Philoponella prominens have a taste for risk, because rather than abstaining, they prefer to be close to death at the end of each mating. Indeed, females have a habit of devouring their partner just after intercourse, during a surprising act of cannibalism.
But the males have found the answer: an ultra-fast good made at the right time. In any case, this is what a team of Chinese researchers noticed. As part of’a studythey explain having observed 155 matings, and that in almost all cases (152), the male had taken his 6 legs after doing his business.
175 rounds per second
This cannibalism would not be insignificant, it would in fact aim to test the physical aptitudes of males, and therefore, the potential of their genetic heritage. Shichang Zhang, the lead author, explains:
“By catapulting, a male can escape the sexual cannibalism of the female, and the female can choose a performing male, as kinetic performance could be directly correlated to the physical condition of the male”
And the speed at which the males take to their heels: the researchers indicate that they can reach 88.2 cm/s and turn 175 times per second. Decidedly reckless, they would usually come back to the female five times to mate again, even if it means systematically dodging again on the edge. It is true that it puts a little spice…
Male orb-weaving Philoponella prominens spiders avoid being eaten by mates by catapulting away
Read more in @CurrentBiology: https://t.co/cjTP9qkeDN#HubeiUniversity Shichang Zhang, @NUSingapore Daiqin Li pic.twitter.com/ovGfBh7jh7
– Cell Press (@CellPressNews) April 25, 2022