Ovarian development and correlated changes in hemolymphatic ecdysteroid levels in two spiders, Coelotes terrestris and Tegenaria domestica (Araneae, Agelenidae).

Oocyte development during the first vitellogenic cycle of Coelotes terrestris and Tegenaria domestica is described. Under the present conditions, this development took about 40 days during which the oocytes went through six stages of maturation. For the first time presence of ecdysteroids is reported in adult females of spiders. Hemolymphatic ecdysteroid peaks were observed in both species at the transition between previtellogenesis and vitellogenesis. 20-Hydroxyecdysone and ecdysone were present in slightly different ratios in C. terrestris as well as T. domestica. These data largely agree with current views of ovarian development in Arthropods.