0.1.0 B vagans Tapping...

[Robert Farmer]

Hi everyone,

Strange one for you...

My SA B vagans (I'm pretty damn sure is female, even if not is no way mature) is perched on the side of the viv nearest the heat mat sporadically tapping away with leg I, sometimes a single tap, others a double, like someone knocking on the door, which is audible accross the room.

She's been heavily webbing as of late (even up the sides of the viv) and is looking rather fat (eating voraciously) so I took this as a sign of upcoming moult, but as of yet is still more than happy to take a mouthful of crix, 4 at a time easy.

Any ideas of this tapping? It's not drumming with the palps, I've been privvy to many sleepless nights with that escapade in the past, but have never witnessed this behaviour before.

And there is not a chance in hell the T in question is a mature male either, so anyone with any similar experiences?

Strange wee beasties...

[Colin D Wilson]

Yes mate, mature female G formosa, hangs off the side of the tank and "taps" with her palps and leg I.
put her in a seperate room away from all the other Grammostola males to see if that make a difference and she still did it

I've no idea either, and as you, am open to suggestions.

[Robert Farmer]

Could be the first step in coherent Theraphosid-Homosapien communication?

Sounds daft but I tried tapping back, yet ellicited no response...

The only MM I have in my collection ATM is G pulchra, so can't be that like you said!

Morse code mayhaps? "GET ME OUTTA HERE"

[James Box]

they're calling the mothership!

it's not daft, i would've tapped back, too

[Oli Dodds]

Oh so im not alone with this one either!?
Hehe, my female rosea has started tapping with legs I and II since her last moult also!
I watched 'Signs' on TV last night and this has me thinking... Maybe they are all preparing for worldwide domination?
Oli

PS- My 100th post, im a senior member, WOOHOOOOOOOO, spiderlings all round!

[Nicola Dolby]

Maybe I can help. When my female H. lividium becomes irritated she drums her front legs to scare away the pest concerned. she's done it at crickets who bother her when she's not hungry, and at me when I turn the light on!

[Peter Lacey]

I was reading about this as I travelled into work this morning. If you have a copy take a read on p90 of Schultz's The Tarantula Keeper's Guide.
Its quite likely replying to a similar sound or trying to attract a similar sound. Schultz noted a reply came after he tapped an egg box carton onto their aquarium.

I'll try to come back with a better reply later, rushing off for my train, soz.

[Robert Farmer]

I was reading about this as I travelled into work this morning. If you have a copy take a read on p90 of Schultz's The Tarantula Keeper's Guide.
Its quite likely replying to a similar sound or trying to attract a similar sound. Schultz noted a reply came after he tapped an egg box carton onto their aquarium.

I'll try to come back with a better reply later, rushing off for my train, soz.

I've got the book so ill check. Global coordinated Arachnida? Now that would b something!

Glad to hear I'm not the only one who'd have tapped back LOL

[Louise~Nichols]

I've got the book so ill check. Global coordinated Arachnida? Now that would b something!

Glad to hear I'm not the only one who'd have tapped back LOL

You're definitely not the only one...I have regular *drumming sessions* with mine, they usually respond even if I instigate it. My B.Vagans do it too, as do a few of my others!!

[Peter Lacey]

Mr S. Schultz refers to this as "sexual stridulation" and suggests its T's trying to communicate with each other, perhaps alerting potential partners. He's observed it in both male and females of various species.