I have recently observed a female A. avicularia drumming to a male A. versicolor in an enclosure next to hers (male molted mature that very day!), and a female B. vagans drumming madly to a mature male B. albopilosum (male drummed back). The female B. vagans, however, did not drum when placed next to a mature male G. rosea's enclosure.
So does this mean that their pheromones are recognizable across species within a certain genus? If this is so, and two species mate and do not produce viable offspring, it would seem to go against natural selection by wasting reproductive "time". Unless of course, these "species" are not true distinct species and are only normally geographically isolated from each other. This isolation would most likely eventually lead to a separate species based on genetic drift.
Anybody have thoughts, observations, or any facts to share? I find this topic very interesting.
So does this mean that their pheromones are recognizable across species within a certain genus? If this is so, and two species mate and do not produce viable offspring, it would seem to go against natural selection by wasting reproductive "time". Unless of course, these "species" are not true distinct species and are only normally geographically isolated from each other. This isolation would most likely eventually lead to a separate species based on genetic drift.
Anybody have thoughts, observations, or any facts to share? I find this topic very interesting.