And that happened “independent of female hunger.”
I think they’ve missed a key factor they should consider before assigning any deeper meaning to this so-called “ritual”. The mama spider may not be hungry when she decides to eat the male, but she is pregnant, whether she is hungry or not, and she will need all the nutrients she can get in order to maximize the chance for healthy offspring. I’d bet they probably have a hormonal trigger to gorge themselves after mating, regardless of hunger.
And.... that's why you better bring a damn insect.