Reproductive phenology of Cheiracanthium lascivum (Araneae: Eutichuridae)

Abstract

Reproductive phenology of Japanese foliage spider Cheiracanthium lascivum was investigated on grasslands at Fujisawa City in Kanagawa Prefecture in order to reveal the parity of this species. The individuals overwintered in juvenile stage, made molting nests after April and became adulthood by the mid-June. The females laid their eggs in the breeding nests up to the mid-July. Subsequently, the females and the newborn juveniles dispersed from the breeding nests by the end of July. After the dispersal, we did not observe any type of newly made nest. Although the females' death after reproduction was not confirmed in the natural field, the results strongly indicate semelparous reproduction of this species.