1974] 
Rovner & Knost — Wrapping of Prey 
405 
L. rabida wrapped various types of prey, especially in situations 
in which multiple prey were captured (Table II). While only 19% 
of the males captured multiple prey, 68% of the females did so. 
Considering both sexes together, wrapping occurred in 20% of the 
cases in which only single captures were made, and in 95% of the 
cases in which two or more prey were captured. Such correlations 
meant that females wrapped prey much more often than males, 
performing at least one bout of wrapping in 78% of the observation 
periods in which they captured prey (single or multiple), while males 
did so only 23% of the time. None of our spider species wrapped 
fruit flies. 
As shown in Table I, individuals of L. punctulata wrapped prey 
much less often than L. rabida and did so less intensively (fewer 
turns and shorter bout duration). Furthermore, it was only four 
of the twelve females that did so; none of the twelve males wrapped 
prey. 
Stratum Selection 
Field observations. — We watched penultimate and adult L. rabida 
on sunny, calm days (early July) in a grassy field near the edge of a 
woods. Undisturbed individuals rested motionless on the leaves and 
stems of grasses and other vegetation. The spiders typically were on 
horizontal or sloping surfaces (rather than vertical ones). Those 
individuals we happened to observe were on the upper leaves of 
relatively low vegetation or part-way up the stems and leaves of 
taller vegetation. 
In response to mild disturbance, the spiders walked or climbed a 
short distance and then resumed their motionless stance. Strong 
disturbance (as that which resulted from our walking near them 
during our collecting efforts) caused the spiders to run and climb 
Fig. 4. [Opposite page]. Sketches, based on a Super 8 mm film, 
showing dorsal views of prey-wrapping by a female Lycosa rabida. The 
several items of the multiple prey-capture are drawn as an homogenous 
mass (stippled) for convenience, and should not be regarded as a wrapped 
bundle. Lighting conditions permitted seeing the silk in views B, E, and 
G. Times were rounded to the nearest sec. A. Placing 1st attachment disk 
(Time=0). B. One-quarter into the 1st revolution ( + 4 sec). C. Near end 
of 1st revolution (+ 7 sec). D. One-third into 2nd revolution (+9 sec). 
E. Near end of 2nd revolution (+ 12 sec). Prey were released from the 
chelicerae at the beginning of the next revolution. F. One-third into 3rd 
revolution ( + 14 sec). G. Beginning of 4th revolution ( + 18 sec). 
H. End of 4th and final revolution (+21 sec). 
