1973] 
Ranvousse — A raneus diadematus 
39 
Table 
3 
FG 
SG 
t 
P 
Body weight 
60.14 ± 11.56 mg 
79.37 ± 18.07 mg 
0.11 
Leg size 
10.75 ± 1.22 mm 
13.60 ± 1.41 m 
4.90 
0.001 
Spiral area 
33,931 ± 10,131mm 2 
28,766 ± 6,559 mm 2 
1.15 
0.400 
Thread length 
15,546 ± 2,768 mm 
10,425 ± 1,715 mm 
3.66 
0.005 
Mesh size 
46.46 ± 9.64 mm 2 
70.73 ± 15.95 mm 2 
3.99 
0.005 
SE median mesh 
size 
0.900 ± 0.022 
0.293 ± 0.068 
8.78 
0.001 
Measure of webs of the FG and SG males at comparable stage of maturity. 
It is neither possible to relate the regularity measures to leg length 
— the FG’s legs were significantly longer than the SG’s legs — nor 
to maturation since the FG spiders were at the last stages of matura- 
tion and the SG males two or three stages before. We may assume 
that the size of the males’ webs but not their regularity is a function 
of the rate of growth and in consequence of the body dimensions. 
Comparison of the FG and SG males’ webs 
at the same stage of maturation 
All the FG webs photographed during the last stage were com- 
pared with all the SG webs photographed about ioo days later, 
during their last stage; this compares webs built at different times 
but comparable stages of maturity. Table 3 gives the figures for 
body weight, leg size, spiral area, thread length, me^h size and the 
variance of the mesh size. The webs of the FG (lighter) males had 
a spiral area larger, a significantly longer thread, smaller mesh size, 
and a higher regularity than the webs built by the SG males at 
comparable maturity (Figs. 8 and 9). The longer length of thread 
produced by the FG males than the SG males indicates that they 
have a better supply of silk or thinner thread. This may be sup- 
ported by the higher amount of food eaten per day and the higher 
rate of utilization of the food by the FG than SG males. The larger 
mesh size and irregularity of the SG webs is related to the larger 
body dimensions of these animals. The difference between the dimen- 
sions of the bodies of the FG and SG males coincides with a longer 
duration of development for the SG than for the FG males. We 
may assume that the regularity of spacing the spiral thread is related 
to the duration of the development in the two groups of males with 
different rate of growth, and is related to maturation within a group 
having a homogenous growth rate. 
