化學信號的發生在性通訊中起著重要作用，但是蜘蛛的性化學很大程度上未進行過深度探索。中國科學院動物研究所研究員李樞強及其同事對北京幽靈蛛進行了研究，鑑定了其性信息素的主要成分。
北京幽靈蛛是典型的長腿蜘蛛，生活於北京周圍的巖洞中。在巖洞口的角落或牆壁結凌亂的絲網。在繁殖季節，性接受狀態的雌性也用性信息素塗在網上來吸引雄性。研究人員在巖洞口抓獲了這種蜘蛛，並將雌性分成性接受和非性接受的兩組。他們發現，性接受的雌性織結的空網對尋找配偶的雄性比非性接受雌蛛的空網有更大的吸引力。化學分析表明，性接受雌蛛的網有相對高豐富度的法尼稀醇乙酸酯和十六醇乙酸酯。行為學研究表明這兩個成分按照2:1的比例混合能夠吸引雄性。
研究人員提出，北京幽靈蛛的性信息素由這兩種成分組成。如果這個假說正確無誤的話，那麼這將會是在蜘蛛中發現的第一個多組分性信息素。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
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.