化学信号的发生在性通讯中起着重要作用，但是蜘蛛的性化学很大程度上未进行过深度探索。中国科学院动物研究所研究员李枢强及其同事对北京幽灵蛛进行了研究，鉴定了其性信息素的主要成分。
北京幽灵蛛是典型的长腿蜘蛛，生活于北京周围的岩洞中。在岩洞口的角落或墙壁结凌乱的丝网。在繁殖季节，性接受状态的雌性也用性信息素涂在网上来吸引雄性。研究人员在岩洞口抓获了这种蜘蛛，并将雌性分成性接受和非性接受的两组。他们发现，性接受的雌性织结的空网对寻找配偶的雄性比非性接受雌蛛的空网有更大的吸引力。化学分析表明，性接受雌蛛的网有相对高丰富度的法尼稀醇乙酸酯和十六醇乙酸酯。行为学研究表明这两个成分按照2:1的比例混合能够吸引雄性。
研究人员提出，北京幽灵蛛的性信息素由这两种成分组成。如果这个假说正确无误的话，那么这将会是在蜘蛛中发现的第一个多组分性信息素。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推荐原始出处：
Journal of Chemical Ecology Volume 35, Number 7 DOI:10.1007/s10886-009-9660-2
A Two-Component Female-Produced Pheromone of the Spider Pholcus beijingensis
Yonghong Xiao1, 3, Jianxu Zhang2 and Shuqiang Li1
(1)Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
(2)State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
(3)Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
Abstract Chemical signaling plays an important role in spider sexual communication, yet the chemistry of spider sex pheromones remains poorly understood. Unlike insects and mammals, the identification of spider pheromones has seldom been attempted, and no multicomponent pheromones have been found. Empty webs of sexually receptive females of Pholcus beijingensis were more attractive to male conspecifics as compared to webs of sexually unreceptive females or to mature males. Coincidently, chemical analysis revealed that (E,E)-farnesyl acetate, diisobutyl phthalate, and hexadecyl acetate of the spider webs exhibited higher relative abundances in sexually receptive females than in sexually unreceptive females or males, indicative of possible pheromone components. Two-choice behavioral assays verified that the blend of (E,E)-farnesyl acetate and hexadecyl acetate (w/w: 2:1) attracted males at a dosage equivalent to the amounts of these compounds in one spider web, whereas neither compound alone aroused males. In addition, diisobutyl phthalate (a likely contaminant from contact with plastic) alone or in combination with either of the acetates did not evoke the males’ attraction. The behavioral data suggest that (E,E)-farnesyl acetate and hexadecyl acetate comprise a two-component female-produced sex pheromone in P. beijingensis, the first multicomponent pheromone found in spiders.
