Dispersal and survivorship in a population of Geolycosa turricola (Araneae, Lycosidae)

A population of the burrowing wolf spider Geolycosa turricola in Mississippi was monitored over a period of 4 years. Weekly censuses of the number of burrows that were active, open but not active, or inactive were taken. The timing of the dispersal of spiderlings was examined by use of caging experiments. A habitat manipulation experiment was used to assess burrow site preferences. This population reproduced on a 2-year cycle; no young were produced in even years. The results suggest that some dispersing spiderlings construct burrows immediately after leaving their mother's burrow while others overwinter and build their first burrow during the spring. Two dispersing groups are identified and are shown to have different survivorship properties. The importance of this dispersal strategy in terms of subsocial behavior is discussed.