Temperature and mating in harvestmen

Temperature impacts a wide range of mating behaviours, particularly in
ectothermic organisms that tend to havebody temperatures similar
to ambient thermal conditions. Here, we test
the effects of thermal variation on precopulatory and copulatory behaviour
in the harvester Leiobunum politum Weed 1889, which
belongs to the group commonly known as daddy longlegs. We ran single
choice mating trials across temperatures commonly experienced in the field
during the mating season (18 - 34 °C) across two years. We tested how
temperature affected the likelihood to move, attempt to mate, and
successfully mate, as well as the duration of copulation. Mating was
highest at low to intermediate temperatures, and the temperature at which
peak mating rates occurred varied across years. The wide range of
temperatures across which L. politum are found to mate
reflect thermal variability in the field and the flexibility in mating
behaviour in this fascinating animal.