Abstract
A total of eleven females of Tetragnatha praedonia (Tetragnathidae) reared in the laboratory produced between one and seven cocoons during their life span. Brood size (the number of eggs per cocoon) varied from 47 to 234. The total number of eggs produced by a female spider varied greatly, from 82 to 1240 eggs, and was strongly correlated with the number of cocoons produced. These results suggest that Tetragnatha praedonia can make several cocoons during its life span if conditions, such as prey abundance, are favorable. Although the brood size was significantly correlated with the carapace length, the total number of eggs produced primarily depended on the number of ovipositions. Thus, well-fed individuals may construct more cocoons and consequently produce more eggs over a lifetime. The generational overlap in T. praedonia may be explained in part by the successive ovipositions of each female spider. Both the short life span and the successive ovipositions of T. praedonia appear to be advantageous in unstable and disturbed habitats.
