How do male nursery-web spiders use tonic immobility to avoid sexual cannibalism?

In the context of nursery-web spiders (Pisaura mirabilis), males utilize tonic immobility as a strategic defense to avoid sexual cannibalism during the mating process.

Typically, the male offers the female a nuptial gift—a paralyzed insect wrapped in silk—to occupy her while he transfers sperm. If the female stops feeding, it often signals that she may attack the male. In these moments, the male enters a state of tonic immobility, becoming motionless and unresponsive to avoid being consumed. Once the female resumes eating the gift, the male terminates the immobile state and continues the mating process. This behavior serves as an evolutionary adaptation to improve the male's chances of successful copulation while minimizing the risk of predation by his mate.1