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- Title
Mating Behavior in the Alpine Tiger Moth, Metacrias huttoni.
- Authors
Hawes, T. C.
- Abstract
The alpine Tiger moth, Metacrias huttoni, of South Island, New Zealand, has adapted to female microptery through unusual courting behavior and behavioral plasticity with regard to copulation position. Courting revolves around male manipulation ('fluffing') of the female's highly derived covering of flocculent setae. This was found to be not only necessary to cue female receptivity, but was also shown to stimulate oviposition. Both freshly pupated (24 h after eclosion) and mature (1 wk after eclosion) virgin females showed significantly greater oviposition after artificial grooming. The standard back-to-back copulatory position of winged moths was replaced in 86% of matings with alternative positions. The structure and functional significance of female setae is examined. A preliminary hypothesis for the origin of the moths' mating behavior is outlined.
- Subjects
SOUTH Island (N.Z.); NEW Zealand; TIGER moths; ANIMAL courtship; HABITATS; OVIPARITY; PSYCHIDAE; DIMORPHISM in animals; LARVAE
- Publication
Journal of Insect Behavior, 2011, Vol 24, Issue 1, p22
- ISSN
0892-7553
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10905-010-9233-9