Anniversary gifts tips? Ask a spider! - 09/06/09

Men have long been aware of the importance of picking those perfect Valentine's gifts or anniversary gifts, but they could perhaps learn a lesson from an insect who knows that the real secret lies in the presentation.

The male nursery web spider intent on wooing his chosen female will present her with the special gift of a morsel of food, beautifully wrapped in silk.

And his rewards depend on his gift wrapping skills rather than his choice of present, as the longer it takes the female to open the precious item, the more she rewards the male with sex.

Zoology expert Dr Ed Sykes, of the University of Edinburgh, believes that men could do worse than picking up pointers from the spider`s ritual.

Speaking at the Cheltenham Science Festival, he said: "The implication for men in the current climate is clear: don't worry about the actual gift, just make sure you wrap it up nicely!

"Spend time rather than money on your courtship and reap the rewards."

Dr Sykes was giving a talk entitled Penisology - An Eye-Opening Look Into Sex In The Animal World.

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