POSTEMERGENCE DEVELOPMENT IN LYCOSA-CARBONELLI COSTA AND CAPOCASALE, L-THORELLI (KEYSERLING), AND THEIR HYBRID PROGENY (ARANEAE, LYCOSIDAE) - A COMPARATIVE LABORATORY STUDY

Twenty-six juvenile wolf spiders belonging to each of three groups, Lycosa carbonelli and L. thorelli and their experimentally obtained hybrids, were raised; 11, 7, and 17, respectively, survived to the adult stage. Lycosa carbonelli averaged 8.1 moults to reach the adult stage, L. thorelli 9.7, and hybrids 8.6; no significant differences were observed between the sexes. Lycosa carbonelli required more time than the other groups between emergence from the egg sac and the first moult. The durations of the intermoult periods and total development were not significantly different among groups. In L. carbonelli and the hybrids, the duration of the intermoult periods increased during development. In L. thorelli the duration of the intermoult periods was fundamentally modified in relation (inverse) to temperature. The life-span of the adults was similar in the three groups: females generally lived longer than males. The initial delay in the development of L. carbonelli would contribute to a decrease in competition of small juveniles with those of L. thorelli, although adults would compete more. The characteristics of hybrids tended to be intermediate. though closer to those of L. carbonelli.