Courtship and sperm transfer in Charinus neocaledonicus Kraepelin, 1895 and Charinus australianus (L. Koch, 1867) (Arachnida, Amblypygi, Charinidae)

The Charinus australianus group is a well-defined species group characterised by rounded, cushion-like female gonopods. Before the present study, the morphology of the gonopods and their function have not been understood. This paper describes courtship behaviour, spermatophore morphology, and the morphology of the female genitalia of Charinus neocaledonicus Kraepelin, 1895 and C. australianus (L. Koch, 1867). Courtship behaviour, though different in details, is similar to that of many other species. The spermatophores are large and soft and carry very small sperm packages, each with a short stalk. After sperm transfer, the spermatophore may be eaten by the female. The spermatophore thus transfers not only spermatozoa but also nutritious paternal investment to the female. Each female gonopod is equipped with a seminal receptacle consisting of an atrium and a spacious inner receptacle. The cover of the atrium can be elevated by high blood pressure and pulled back by a group of muscles attached to the inner part of the receptacle. The female probably picks up the sperm packages with the atria of her receptacles. The observations are compared to those on other amblypygids, and the evolution of different types of spermatophores and of gonopods with seminal receptacles is discussed.     

Courtship and mating in the whip spider Phrynichus orientalis Weygoldt, 1998 (Chelicerata: Amblypygi)

Mating behaviour and spermatophore morphology of the south-east Asian whip spider Phrynichus orientalis is described. During courtship there is less bodily contact between mates than in other studied species of the same genus. However, a peculiarity for the species is that the pair often pauses for minutes, sitting front to front without any movement. For spermatophore formation, the male shifts his body under that of the female like in many other species. However, after spermatophore formation, the male lures the female to the spermatophore instead of pulling her as in most other species studied. The spermatophore differs from those of most other species of the genus by the fact that the cushions in front of the sperm masses are replaced by a hard, transparent mass which has the same function as the cushions. Mating behaviour and spermatophore morphology of P. orientalis thus show peculiarities that so far have not been described for other species of the genus. It is not clear whether these characters should be considered plesiomorphic or apomorphic. But it does clearly show that there is more diversity within this genus than expected.     

Functional morphology of the copulatory system of box crabs with long second gonopods (Calappidae,Eubrachyura, Decapoda,Crustacea)

Male True Crabs use two pairs of gonopods to deliver mating products during copulation. Commonly, the second pair is shorter than the first pair, and most research to date has focused on species with short second gonopods. We investigated male and female copulatory organs in Calappula saussurei and Calappa pelii, two species of box crabs (Calappidae) with second gonopods which are longer than the first pair. Scanning electron microscopy and histological cross sectioning show that the female copulatory system is unique in several aspects: the genital duct is part concave and part simple type. The seminal receptacle is divided into two chambers, a ventral chamber of ectodermal and mesodermal origin, and a dorsal chamber of ectodermal origin. This dorsal chamber is the location of spermatophore reception during copulation. A sperm plug closes the dorsal chamber off. We propose that long second gonopods deliver male mating products directly into the dorsal chamber. To date, spermatophore reception has been associated with the mesodermal tissue of the seminal receptacle. The copulatory system of box crabs with long second gonopods shows novel deviations from this general pattern. J. Morphol. 276:77–89, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The sexual behaviour of the red-spotted newt, Notophthalmus viridescens (Amphibia: Urodela: Salamandridae)

The sexual behaviour of the red-spotted newt, Notophthalmus viridescens is described. The male can adopt one of two types of behaviour depending on the initial responsiveness of the female. If she is responsive, the male performs a brief lateral (or hula) display, at the end of which one or more spermatophores may be deposited. If she is unresponsive, the male captures the female and a lengthy period of amplexus ensues, followed by spermatophore transfer behaviour. Spermatophore transfer is most successful after amplexus, and a preliminary cost-benefit analysis of the two types of courtship is given. The behaviour is discussed in the context of other urodele amphibians, and in the wider context of male reproductive strategies.     

Male age: effect on mating behaviour and success in the cockroach Diploptera punctata

Older cockroach, Diploptera punctata, males (28 days old) transferred more sperm and larger spermatophores to females than 8-or 14-day-old males. In one male: one female behavioural tests, no significant correlations were found between either how rapidly males initiated courtship with females (response time), or intensity or duration of courtship, and the number of sperm or size of spermatophore subsequently transferred. Eight-day males were slower to initiate courtship than 28-day males. There was no significant differences in the duration of courtship for 8-, 14- and 28-day males, even though the mean duration of courtship was more than twice, as long for 8-day males compared with 14- and 28-day males. In competitive mating tests with one female and three males, one of each age, 28-day males were significantly more successful than 8- and 14-day males. It is concluded that the greater success of 28-day males is due to differences in male behaviour rather than to female discrimination.     

Argulus japonicus: Sperm transfer by means of a spermatophore on Carassius auratus (L)

The process of sperm transfer is somewhat enigmatic in Argulus, even though copulation has been witnessed. A breeding colony of Argulus japonicus was kept under laboratory conditions in order to study reproduction in the species. Pairs in copula were removed and studied with histology and scanning electron microscopy to describe the mechanism of sperm transfer. Sections of copulating pairs revealed sperm on the accessory copulatory structures of the male’s swimming legs; and scanning electron microscopy showed that sperm transfer occurs in three phases which can be differentiated to 10 different stages. Sperm transfer occurs via a spermatophore which is extruded from the genital aperture of the male and is then transferred to the socket on the third pair of legs of the male, before being transferred into the spermathecae of the female via the spermathecal spines. This is the first observation of a spermatophore in Argulus.     

Dryopithecus africanus forelimb

An alternative to recent interpretations of locomotor and postural behaviour in Dryopithecus (Proconsul) africanus as characteristic of “brachiating” or “knuckle-walking” adaptations is suggested. Analysis of the available joint complexes of the D. africanus upper limb and consideration of criteria employed by some researchers demonstrate that reconstruction of positional behaviour in Miocene Hominoidea is extremely speculative. However, the direction and range of movement within the elbow and wrist complexes of D. africanus can be defined with reference to available articular surfaces. Movement capabilities were apparently similar to those of quadrupedal, palmigrade primates.     

Courtship in two species of periodical cicadas, Magicicada septendecim and Magicicada cassini

Courtship behaviour of two species of periodical cicadas, Magicicada septendecim and M. cassini, was studied in the field during the 1970, 1973, and 1974 emergences of these insects. In areas where both species were courting there were differences in both male and female courtship patterns, both in acoustic and behavioural components. Experiments with models showed that male M. septendecim were more likely to court crude models of females than were M. cassini males. When females were ‘courted’ with models that could imitate some of male courtship, they were more receptive when the models' ‘songs’ were those of conspecific males. Acoustic differences between species are probably used by females in mate selection, maintaining species separation even in areas where the two species overlap in both space and time.     

Repeated visitations of spermatophores and polyandry in females of eriophyoid mites

Eriophyoid females store sperm either asymmetrically in one spermatheca, or symmetrically in both spermathecae. Previous studies have suggested that species in which females store sperm asymmetrically pick up sperm from only one spermatophore, while those with symmetrical sperm storage pick up sperm from two or more spermatophores during their lifetime. The aim of this study was to examine spermatophore visitation behaviour and symmetry of sperm storage in Aculops allotrichus from the black locust tree and Cecidophyopsis hendersoni from the yucca. This would indicate monandry or polyandry in these species. In both eriophyoids, the spermatophore visitation consisted of three phases: mounting, lying on the spermatophore and dismounting. Aculops allotrichus stored sperm asymmetrically. However, nearly one-third of the observed females visited two spermatophores, rather than only one in their lives. When A. allotrichus females visited two spermatophores they spent a similar amount of time at the first and at the second visitation. Also, the times of visitation of the first of the two spermatophores and the single spermatophore in a female lifetime did not differ significantly. This would suggest that apart from monandry, double insemination also occurs in this species. By contrast, C. hendersoni females were polyandrous. They stored sperm symmetrically and visited several spermatophores, on average 1.54 (max 6) per day, and up to 33 spermatophores in their lives. The benefits of repeated spermatophore visitation and the possible mechanisms of sperm storage in both species are discussed.     

Female and male interactions during courtship in Calopteryx maculata and C. dimidiata (Odonata: Calopterygidae): Influence of oviposition behaviour

Calopteryx maculata and C. dimidiata damselfly females respond to male courtship with specific displays which signal differences in their receptivity. These include a rejection (wing spreading) and an invitation (wing-flipping) display, as well as a neutral (sit still) response. There are interspecific differences in the likelihood of each female display and in male responses to these displays. C. maculata males persist in courtship irrespective of female response, while C. dimidiata males generally stop courting when the female's response is rejection or neutrality. I suggest that these differences result from interspecific differences in oviposition behaviour. Female C. maculata oviposit at the water surface, which exposes them to disturbance by males attempting to mate. Females are therefore likely to remate to secure postcopulatory guarding when changing oviposition sites and males are expected to be persistent in courtship. Female C. dimidiata submerge to oviposit, which frees them from male disturbance and means that males have less control over female access to oviposition sites. Males therefore have less influence on mating by females and are expected not to persist in courtship of non-receptive females.     

Mate choice by male sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus

Territorial male threespine sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus, were presented simultaneously with two gravid female stickleback dummies that differed only in degree of abdominal distention. Males directed most (approximately 60%) of their courtship behaviour (zigzags and leads) to the more distended dummy. However, when presented with the same two dummies consecutively, males directed similar amounts of courtship to each. Males probably prefer the more distended females because distention indicates greater fecundity or spawning readiness.     

Inhibition of mating behaviour before feeding in the tick Aponomma hydrosauri

When on their host, both male and female adults of the reptile tick Aponomma hydrosauri require at least five days of feeding before normal mating behaviour will start. In off-host trials, fed females attract significantly more male contact than do unfed females, but unfed males show normal mating behaviour. All aspects of female mating behaviour are inhibited before feeding. Male mating behaviour has two stages: one comprises detachment and searching, the other, courtship behaviour. Only the former is inhibited before male feeding. This suggests the female signal has two components: one initiating searching, and the other initiating courtship. Males will always respond to the second component, but only after feeding will they respond to the first.     

Breeding in the crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes: mating patterns, mate choice and intermale competition

1. The breeding behaviour of the white-clawed crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes, which is in decline throughout Europe, was analysed. 2. Observations and experiments focused on: (i) several aspects of mating behaviour, showing the primary role of the female during courtship, the patterns of mature male receptivity and the possible existence of a mating stimulus produced by either a mating pair or a receptive female; (ii) the potential for mate choice either by males (males were not choosy, mating with the first receptive female they met) or by females (that rejected the smallest males and males with only one cheliped) and (iii) intermale fighting before copulation (larger males copulated more often, with the exception of some ’sneakers‘). 3. Sperm competition occurred when a new male was presented with a female after a previous male‘s spermatophore had been deposited; the new male cleaned the rival male‘s spermatophore by feeding on it before copulation. This behaviour has also been observed in some pseudoscorpions, millipedes and collembolans, but always in cases where the spermatophore is deposited on the substratum. Introduction     

Courtship Behavior of the Cumberland Plateau Woodland Salamander,Plethodon kentucki (Amphibia: Plethodontidae), with a Review of Courtship in the Genus Plethodon

Complete catalogs of courtship behavior are available for only seven of the 42 currently recognized species of Plethodon. Additional detailed studies of courtship behavior in Plethodon species are needed to analyze the evolution of courtship behavior in this genus. We investigated the courtship behavior of the Cumberland Plateau woodland salamander (Plethodon kentucki) and compared it to previous accounts of courtship in other Plethodon species. In the laboratory, we videotaped the complete courtship of 30 different P. kentucki pairs, which included 46 tail-straddling walks that resulted in spermatophore deposition. From a transition matrix of observed motor patterns, we constructed a flow diagram of significant motor-pattern transitions during courtship. In general, the courtship behavior of this species is very similar to that of other large eastern Plethodon; however, there are some notable differences. Prior to the tail-straddling walk, the male transfers courtship pheromone from his mental gland to the female's nasolabial grooves (via mental-gland tapping and ‘chin-to-chin’ behavior patterns) more frequently than in other Plethodon. In most courtships, the female initiates contact leading to the tail-straddling walk. Males exhibit a greater propensity to deposit multiple spermatophores per courtship (two deposited in 33% of courtships, three deposited in 10% of courtships, X = 1.53 spermatophores per courtship) than males of other plethodontids. Mean size of the spermatophore is smaller than in other large eastern Plethodon. Overall, the courtship behavior of this species is most similar to that of P. jordani.     

Kampf,Paarungsverhalten, Spermatophorenmorphologie und weibliche Genitalien bei neotropischen Geißelspinnen (Amblypygi,Arachnida)

Zusammenfassung Agonistisches Verhalten, Samenübertragung und Spermatophorenmorphologie vonTarantula (Phrynus) palmata (Herbst) undHeterophrynus alces Pocock sind ähnlich wie bei anderen Arten der Familie Tarantulidae (Phrynidae). Anders ist das agonistische Verhalten vonTrichodamon froesi Mello Leitao. Die Palpen tragen an ihren Spitzen kleine Scheren und sind beim Männchen stark verlängert. Beim Kampf versucht jeder, die Tibien des 3. Beinpaares des Gegners zu ergreifen und dann nach hinten und hochzustemmen. Die Balz besteht aus Serien von vibrierenden und trillernden Bewegungen der Fühlerbeine und gelegent lichen Eingreifen des Weibchens; das Weibchen antwortet darauf mit charakteristischen Fühlerbeinbewegungen. Die komplizierte Spermatophore wird dadurch entleert, daß das Weibchen auf zwei Hebel drückt und dadurch die Samenpakete hochschnellen läßt. Diese werden dann in die Receptacula eingeführt und mit den hakenartigen Strukturen an den Gonopoden ergriffen und abgerissen. Ein Vergleich der bisher untersuchten Arten zeigt, daß das Paarungsverhalten keine charakteristischen Unterschiede bei verschiedenen Familien oder Gattungen zeigt. Aber die Spermatophoren zeigen familientypische Baueigenschaften.

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Agonistic and mating behaviour, spermatophore morphology, and female genitalia in neotropical whip spiders (Amblypygi, Arachnida)

Summary Agonistic and mating beaviour and Spermatophore morphology ofTarantula (Phrynus) palmata (Herbst) andHeterophrynus alces Pocock are similar to those of other species of the Tarantulidae (Phrynidae). Males ofTrichodamon froesi Mello Leitao perform a different agonistic behaviour. Their pedipalps bear small apical chelae and are extremely elongate. During fighting, each male grasps the tibiae of the opponent's third legs and pushes them upward and backward. During mating, the male performs vibrating and tapping movements with its antenniform legs and occasionally grasps the female. The female responds by performing characteristic movements of her antenniform legs. The spermatophore is a complicated structure. It is emptied by the female's pressing down two levers which causes two sperm packages to become elevated. These are then grasped by the female's seminal receptacles and by two hook-like structures of her gonopods and finally pulled off the spermatophore. Comparison of the species so far studied shows that the mating behaviour, although it varies in different species, does not exhibit differences useful for taxonomic research. But the different spermatophores show family characteristic structural properties.

     

Behavioural shift from courtship solicitation to mate avoidance in female ringlet butterflies (Aphantopus hyperanthus) after copulation

In butterflies where nutrients contributed by males through mating are used by females for egg production and/or somatic maintenance, females may benefit from mating more than once. However, in species where sperm is used only for the fertilization of eggs and the sperm received in one copulation is sufficient for fertilization of all of the eggs, females should benefit from mating only once. In these species the reproductive success of females is likely to be proportional to the time they can allocate to egg-laying activities. Thus these females should be selected to minimize the time spent in an unmated condition, and to minimize time-consuming interactions, like courtship, with males after mating. As shown by spermatophore counts, females of the ringlet butterfly, Aphantopus hyperanthus, generally mate only once. These females exhibit behaviour consonant with the above view: they solicit courtship before copulation and actively avoid males after mating.