In nature, it is often assumed that females are more often than not the choosier of the two sexes when it comes to mate selection, with the rare exception of complete sex role reversal. However, what if males could still be choosy despite being the limited sex? This concept forms the basis of cryptic male choice, in which males may benefit from being selectively choosy in less overt ways. Previous research has explored this theory in organisms such as soldier flies, worms, and butterflies. However, this study expands the knowledge and application of cryptic male choice into a new species: Pholcus phalangiodes cellar spiders. An experiment consisting of 30 trials across two treatment groups was conducted to investigate whether male Pholcus phalangioides spiders exhibit cryptic male choice via strategic sperm allocation in response to female quality, particularly body size. The study aimed to determine whether males adjust the quantity and/or quality of sperm transferred based on mate characteristics. Results indicate that males do in fact vary the quantity, but not the quality, of sperm allocated depending on female size. This pattern of cryptic male choice mirrors findings in several insect species and, to current knowledge, represents the first documented evidence of such behavior in an arachnids species. These findings suggest that cryptic male choice may be more taxonomically widespread than previously thought and underscores the potential for nuanced reproductive strategies even in species where females are traditionally viewed as the choosier sex.
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