Ballooning in Geolycosa turricola (Treat) and Geolycosa patellonigra Wallace: high dispersal frequencies in stable habitats

Abstract

Spiderlings of the burrowing wolf spider Geolycosa turricola (Treat) from Mississippi and Geolycosa patellonigra Wallace from Florida were experimentally ballooned to determine the frequency of ballooning. Ballooning frequencies of the two species were found to be higher than those reported for other members of the family Lycosidae. The two species differed in the ratio of ballooner to nonballooners. Evaluation of the stability of the habitat of the two species indicated that the high ballooning frequency was not expected. Explanations of the high dispersal frequencies were based on life history attributes of the spiders.