Black widows: the smell of cheese feet as a secret weapon in spider flirtation!

Black widows: the smell of cheese feet as a secret weapon in spider flirtation!

Black widows, known for their striking appearance and enigmatic courtship behavior, have piqued the interest of scientists. These spiders, up to 15 millimeters in size, are easy to recognize by their thirteen red spots on their black bodies. The latest research from the University of Greifswald, in collaboration with Canadian scientists, shows that females use a very special scent strategy to attract males. The females use a chemical pheromone whose smell is reminiscent of “cheese feet”. This surprising scent combination unfolds through the females' webs and has the ability to influence the males for weeks, as ndr.de reports.

The researchers discovered that the females use their webs as long-term scent transmitters. In contrast to many other insects, which only release pheromones temporarily, the chemical substance on the web ensures that it can work over longer periods of time. The pheromone components even have a double function: upon contact, they trigger courtship behavior in male spiders and at the same time release the scent that attracts them to their partner. The males, on the other hand, find this scent extremely attractive, even if it reminds people of “cheese socks”, as vbio.de explains.

Seasonal adjustments of scent signals

Another exciting aspect of the study is the females' ability to adapt the intensity of their scent signals to the season. Researchers have shown that females remain attractive throughout the year, with the main mating season offering the greatest incentive for males. This adaptation could be triggered by changes in day length, which give females information about the upcoming mating season. The results of this year-long field study, which included monthly measurements, demonstrate the sophisticated communication of black widows through complex chemical interactions, as outlined in the publication in the Journal of Chemical Ecology, authored by Dr. Andreas Fischer, the first author of the study, who previously worked at Simon Fraser University in Canada (juraforum.de).

Through extensive laboratory studies and behavioral experiments, the researchers were able to identify the chemical components of the nets and demonstrate the scent's attraction to males. Even synthetic scents used in field experiments were able to attract the males, further underlining the effectiveness of the chemical signals. This newly discovered communication mechanism in black widows provides valuable insights into the complex interactions within the animal kingdom and opens up opportunities for further biological and ecological research.