The Biology of Clubiona cambridgei (Aranea, Clubionidae) - Intraspecific Interactions

Clubiona cambridgei is a short-sighted hunting spider that lives on bushes of New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax) and constructs silken nests within tunnels formed by rolled- up leaves. Intraspecific interactions in this species are integrally related to the use of nests. In laboratory observations, mating was never observed outside nests, although virgin females readily mated while inside their nests. A distinctive courtship preceded copulation in every case, and displays occurred also in other types of interactions. Interactions were more lengthy at than away from nests. Males cohabited in nests with subadult females. After the subadults moulted and matured, the males mated with them inside the nests. Vacant nests of adult and subadult females elicited courtship behaviour from males, and males discriminated between these nests and ones of males, immatures, and another species of spider, never courting at the latter three types. After being washed in ether, nests of females no longer elicited male court- ship, suggesting that contact sex pheromones are involved.