164 
Psyche 
[September 
Various evidence gathered in this study indicated that abdominal 
swiveling was elicited in the female primarily by the male’s leaning 
against the side of the female’s posterior carapace. Palpal tapping, 
one of the most obvious aspects of the male’s behavior during his 
shift to the opposite side, had been suggested to be the stimulus re- 
leasing abdominal swiveling (Hallander, 1966). However, the latter 
seemed to play a minimal role, if any, in triggering the female’s 
response. (Perhaps palpal tapping, if it did indeed have a function, 
represented an exploratory behavior aiding the male in his orientation 
on the female.) The observation that simultaneous stimulation of 
both sides of the female’s carapace resulted in a medial abdominal 
position (with weak side-to-side swiveling) suggested that bilateral 
input resulted in a bilateral response, in which the motor mechanism 
for both sides was activated. 
Summary 
Studies involving experimentally modified Lycosa rabida suggested 
some of the mechanisms controlling various aspects of copulatory 
behavior. Both maintenance of the copulatory state and proper 
positioning of the male depended on input from the palps. There 
existed an independent insertion tendency for each palp. Males 
with modified palps showed courtship, tying down, and disorienta- 
tion. Pseudo-insertions occurred in normal males paired with females 
having sealed copulatory pores. Inability to insert one palp did not 
eliminate the pattern of shifting from side to side on the female. 
Events associated with partial hematodochal expansion provided 
adequate stimuli for eliciting moistening of the palp. Cheliceral 
movements typical of palpal moistening occurred in palpless males. 
Mechanical stimuli resulting from the male’s leaning against one 
side of the female’s carapace released her abdominal swiveling re- 
sponse. 
Literature Cited 
Gerhardt, U. 
1924. Weitere Studien iiber die Biologie der Spinnen. Arch. Natur- 
gesch. 90: 85-192. 
Gering, R. L. 
1953. Structure and function of the genitalia in some American age- 
lenid spiders. Smithsonian Inst. Misc. Collect. 121, No. 4. 
Hallander, H. 
1967. Courtship display and habitat selection in the wolf spider Par- 
dosa chelata (O. F. Muller). Oikos 18: 145-150. 
Montgomery, T. H. Jr. 
1903. Studies on the habits of spiders, particularly those of the mating 
period. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 55: 59-149. 
