The nursery web spider, Pisaurina mira, is one of around thirty arachnids known to engage in a little light bondage during sex. The male sneaks on to the female’s web and ties her up, using a pair of specially evolved extra-long legs so he can keep clear of her fangs while looping his own silk threads around her limbs. With the female restrained, the male can mate safely and at a leisurely pace, taking time to insert his pedipalps multiple times, increasing the chance of sperm transfer and fertilization. Once the job’s done, the female releases herself from her silken fetters while the male
...more
