A spider researcher Pia Stalhandske knew that males of Pisaura mirabilis offer t

Question

A spider researcher Pia Stalhandske knew that males of Pisaura mirabilis offer their mates a nuptial gift, a prey item, such as a cricket, whose acceptance by the female is critical for male mating success. males wrap their generally dark coloured gifts in white silk. Stalhandske wondered if the males wrapped their gifts in order to make them look like the white, silk-covered egg sacs that mated females make and hold in their jaws to protect until the spiderlings hatch. What theory was Stalhandske using to explore this species' courtship behaviour?

Explanation / Answer

He was using the sexual propaganda theory to explore this species’ courtship behavior. This theory states that mates are opportunistically lead, on the basis of various factors determining the choice such as phenotypic characteristics, apparent vigor of individual, strength of mate signals, trophic resources, territoriality etc.

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