Came across this little story in a woodland:
Male to the left and female to the right.
The male approaches plucking a fast cadence on the web, the female responds with two plucks. The process is repeated.
insect Maiting Spiders A02_001-02_06-09-21 by Lester W, on FlickrAfter a while the male is close enough and appears to be stroking the female’s front legs.
insect Maiting Spiders A03_001-02_06-09-21 by Lester W, on Flickr
insect Maiting Spiders A05_009_06-09-21 by Lester W, on Flickr
insect Maiting Spiders A05_011_06-09-21 by Lester W, on FlickrOnce the male is confident his approach will be allowed he jumps on the underside of the female’s abdomen and passes a pre-prepared package of sperm (produced in his abdomen by testes) from his pedipalps to the female’s reproductive tract (epigyne).
insect Maiting Spiders A05_012_06-09-21 by Lester W, on FlickrHave passed his sperm, the male initiates his escape plan using a pre-tensioned safety line of silk to jump away left and swing down, narrowly avoiding a strike from the female’s fangs.
insect Maiting Spiders A05_013_06-09-21 by Lester W, on FlickrVideo from 74 stills - use link for full HD size
insect Maiting Spider Mov_06-09-21_Aligned by Lester W, on Flickr
