Epigamic display and unique mating position in Wyeomyia arthrostigma (Diptera: Culicidae)

The mating behavior of Wyeomyia arthrostigma is more complex than that reported for W. smithii. Like some other genera in the tribe Sabethini, flying W. arthrostigma males approach females perching on vertical sticks. A male aligns himself next to a female by seizing her wing and flipping sideways t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of insect behavior 1996-09, Vol.9 (5), p.739-753
Main Authors: Philips, T.K. (The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.), Hancock, R.G, Foster, W.A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ACCOUPLEMENT
Animal ethology
Biological and medical sciences
COMPORTAMIENTO SEXUAL
COMPORTEMENT SEXUEL
COPULA
COPULATION
Culicidae
Diptera
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
male courtship display
MATING BEHAVIOR
Protozoa. Invertebrata
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR
WYEOMYIA
Wyeomyia arthrostigma
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Description
Summary:The mating behavior of Wyeomyia arthrostigma is more complex than that reported for W. smithii. Like some other genera in the tribe Sabethini, flying W. arthrostigma males approach females perching on vertical sticks. A male aligns himself next to a female by seizing her wing and flipping sideways to land next to her, rather than beneath her. He then performs a series of abdominal bobbing movements, the pair achieves superficial genital coupling while the male's proboscis rotates and snaps down, and the antennae spread farther apart. Finally, the pair shifts to full copulation, and in this phase insemination occurs. In the copulatory position the abdomens of male and female are almost at right angles to each other, made possible by a twisting of the male's terminal segments. The nature of the mating process and its similarity to some elements of Sabethes and Topomyia mating indicate that males may be performing a courtship display.
ISSN:0892-7553
1572-8889
DOI:10.1007/BF02213554