Sorry but this is a newbie question,dont have my tarantula guide with me... Do females only tap when they are actually introduced to the males?? Is a tapping adult spider ( on its own) a clear indication that it is male??

I have had sub adult females tap without having a male present, so it is not a clear indication of male vs female. The tapping is often very different speed between male and female of the same species though if you know what to listen for.

If its more of a drumming sound, could be a female, if its a tapping sound like nails on glass and in short bursts its most likely male. Males seem to tap faster that females in my opinion and as I said they seem to make more of a longer hollow drumming sound

Whether we call it tapping, drumming, vibrating, shaking or just acting funny, it remains impossible to understand the finer nuances of this form of communication. We associate this with with mating because it is rather an obvious way males try to attract the attentions of a female, and visa versa. There may be other reasons why spiders "tap/vibrate/stridulate" like a mother M balfouri calling offspring to a prey item.

There is no way a particular sound can be attributed to male or female because the sound might be caused by the surface the spider is on. The rhythm, frequency or intensity with which a spider communicates might vary between males and females, but sound is not an indicator. The secret code hidden in the vibration is probably genera specific, but has similarities among species because I have seen Poecilotheria females react to various males from other species. I have also witnessed an Aphonopelma chalcodes female react to Aphonopelma bicoloratum male, and this was over some distance.

I am of the opinion that sound has nothing to do with it, but rather the specific "code" hidden in the vibration. It's not "listening" for a passing male, it's "feeling" a passing male. When she FEELS the phone ring, she responds.

IMO...

Some say Scarab doesnt bbm his friends... he drums messages. :woohoo:

And I have only ONE (admittedly, rather large) pedipalp...