What obligatory outcome frequently follows mating for males of certain North American *D. tenebrosus*?
Answer
They are cannibalized by the females after or during the mating process
The breeding ritual observed in some North American species, notably *Dolomedes tenebrosus*, involves a dramatic and fatal role reversal for the male. Following copulation, sometimes even before the act is fully concluded, the male spider faces the risk of being consumed by the larger female. This post-mating cannibalism appears to be a recurring pattern in these species, sometimes occurring even more frequently than it does in black widows. The female, after this act, then dedicates herself to protecting the resulting offspring.
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