Spiders are also won by the stomach, and if not ask the male Pisaura mirabilis , a species of European spider, who offer the females dead insects wrapped in silk. A study published in the journal Animal Behavior takes an in-depth look at this behavior.
The researchers conducted several experiments to test whether suitors cheated by packing inedible items to make them appear larger. However, the results revealed that these animals are very honest since, of the 58 males studied, 23 of them carried gifts and all of them contained fresh remains of insects.
However, carrying these gifts of love also comes at a price . In a second experiment, the scientists found that pack-bearing males were 42 percent slower than individuals of similar weight, but free of load. On the other hand, in fights between males, spiders carrying gifts were not harmed, and some dominant individuals stole packages from weaker ones. Researchers think these behaviors may signal to a female the male's ability to find and transport food.
