Is this Pardosa signalling for a mate?

[Geoff F]

S. Devon, today.

Something which I haven't seen before. This spider, is it Pardosa nigriceps, was waving it's palps in the air. First the right hand, lifted high and moved in a circle. It was then lowered and the same procedure occurred with the other palp.



After a few minutes, the procedure began again. I watched this happen several times before it eventually moved away out of sight.

It was a very deliberate 'well rehearsed' manoeuvre not random flailing around.

So was this signaling to attract a mate, a threat posture to defend territory, or something completely different?

[No.9 Spider]

From your description and the time of year I'd say he's undoubtedly looking for a mate.



No.9 Spider

[Geoff F]

Thanks. That is what I thought, but this is the first time I have witnessed this happening.

[hedgehugger]

I should have searched through before posting my vid

I have just seen a very similar thing in the garden with various spiders (same type). Each 'dance' seemed slightly different but followed similar patterns.

They certainly caught my attention, if not the female spider's