Geographical variation in male courtship behaviour and sexual isolation in wolf spiders of the genusSchizocosa

Assessment of Potential Predation Costs of Male Decoration and Courtship Display in Wolf Spiders Using Video Digitization and Playback

“…In such a case, sexual signaling mechanisms might be expected to diverge. The genus Schizocosa, and the S. ocreata clade in particular, has been suggested as an example of rapid speciation in response to sexual selection for male courtship displays and decorations (Miller et al, 1998;Uetz, 2000). Verrell's model therefore has interesting implications for the genus Schizocosa, considering that these species are behaviorally isolated by male sexual signaling behavior and that these sexual signaling behaviors may be subject to different predation pressures.…”

“…Members of this genus are wandering, non-web-building wolf spiders that inhabit most of the deciduous forest region of eastern North America Redner, 1978, 1990). The S. ocreata clade contains at least six closely related species that appear to have recently speciated as a consequence of behavioral reproductive isolation (Stratton and Uetz, 1986;Miller et al, 1998). Females are nearly indistinguishable morphologically, while males are distinguishable by the presence or absence of decorative tufts or pigments on the forelegs and species-specific courtship behaviors.…”

Geographical variation in wolf spider dispersal behaviour is related to landscape structure

“…High levels of (behavioural) speciation within spiders (e.g. McClintock & Uetz 1996;Miller et al 1998;Töpfer-Hofmann et al 2000) substantiate the expectation of high genetic differentiation in fragmented habitat types (e.g. forests, oligotrophic grasslands, salt marshes).…”

Leg ornamentation and the efficacy of courtship display in four species of wolf spider (Araneae: Lycosidae)

“…(4) S. crassipes (Walckenaer) males have pigmentation on the femur, patella, and tibia of legs I along with "brushes" of black hairs on the tibia. The courtship of these males involves active walking about with extremely rapid extended leg-waving displays (description in Miller et al 1998). …”