During my PhD I examine the fundamental morphological and ethological requirements and mechanisms that facilitated the evolution of sociality in velvet spiders (Eresidae). I therefore conduct a comparative study on the subsocial species Stegodyphus lineatus and the social Stegodyphus dumicola.

I focus on the extreme brood care which is assumed to be an important requirement for the evolution of permanent sociality in velvet spiders. In a behavioural approach I aim to explore how virgin females in a colony of the social species contribute to reproductive success of a group and how reproductive role among females is determined. Additionally, using paraffin histology and ultrathin sections, I investigate what kind of morphological changes a mother experiences during brood care. I furthermore compare the morphological processes in mothers of both species with virgin helpers in S. dumicola to identify the morphological adaptations that accompany the evolution of sociality.

My work will therefore contribute to the understanding of the fundamental aspects of the evolution of sociality.