Black widow's sex secrets revealed

The popular myth is that male black widow spiders are doomed the moment they experience their first sexual urge: courtship may lead to intercourse, but after the deed is done, the female mercilessly devours the male, eight legs and all. The truth is that this myth is largely an oversimplification of what scientists already know about the misunderstood species’ mating habits, according to Live Science.

 

The name “black widow spider” usually refers to any of the three North American spider species with dark, bulbous bodies and a red hourglass pattern on their backs. The name has also been used to describe various members of the Latrodectus – or widow spider – genus, which includes the cannibalistic Australian redback. According to Arizona State University’s widow expert, Chad Johnson, however, the inclination towards sexual cannibalism is not the same for all spiders in this particular species.

 

Like all males of any species, the male widow spider, upon maturation, develops an interest in the ladies. Unfortunately for him, nature has given him an uphill battle in the form of a tiny body that is less than half the size of the female’s. Despite this glaring fact, the male is undeterred and prepares for courtship by spinning a small “sperm web”. He deposits some semen into this web and coats his palps – the tiny, claw-like appendages near his mouth – with sperm. Once these preparations are done, he then embarks on a quest to find a willing mate to spend some quality time with.

 

Chemical cues lead the male to the female. Like a nervous teenager serenading a finicky senorita, the male will then attempt to impress her by plucking the strands of her web as he walks around —akin to performing a song and dance number through vibrations in the web. Carefully, he approaches his target until he is close enough to her, at which point he taps her body. The courtship ends when the female permits the male to insert his palps into her reproductive opening located on her abdomen.

 

The post-sex “glow” that occurs after the male has deposited his sperm is often a good time for him to skedaddle, lest the female decides he looks like dessert. 

 

However, cannibalism does not occur in all widows. The female of the species Latrodectus katipo is one that spares her mate the humiliation of getting eaten alive after sex. North American widow spiders do cannibalize, but not always. To reduce their chances of getting gobbled up, most males prefer mating with females that are already full from a previous meal. The male Australian redback is a peculiar exception; they alone willingly sacrifice themselves to their mates’ ravenous appetites after sex.

 

Male widow survivors continue to have sex with females until death from old age claims them not a full year later. Females live much longer and, at their choosing, store and use the sperm of their many partners.  — TJD, GMA News