14 DAY TRIAL // Researchers with the University of Toronto have found that, as surprising as this may sound, males belonging to a species of black widow spiders native to North America are rather picky when it comes to choosing a mate.
Long story short, it has been discovered that, if given a choice, male Latrodectus Hesperus would much rather try and start a family with a well-fed maiden rather than with a less-fed female that has had other partners.
According to Science Daily, this peculiar behavior was documented both in controlled studies and in the wild. Evidence suggests that the males rely on the pheromones released by females to determine which are well-fed and have never mated before.
Researchers believe that male Latrodectus Hesperus prefer well-fed females due to the fact that they are less likely to want to attack them and feed on them. Otherwise put, this picky behavior might be a means of self-preservation.
“It's important to remember that when a female eats a lot of prey, she's less likely to eat a potential mate,” says specialist Maydianne Andrade.
On the other hand, it is possible that male spiders belonging to said species have a soft spot for well-fed females because they make better mothers, meaning that they can produce more eggs.
“Females who have been able to eat a lot and obtain a lot of food resources can transfer those resources into egg production. It's not just that they are healthier but that they are more fertile because they can produce more egg sacks,” explains researcher Emily MacLeod.