MALE EGG GUARDING BEHAVIOR IN THE NEOTROPICAL HARVESTMAN AMPHERES LEUCOPHEUS (MELLO-LEITÃO 1922) (OPILIONES, GONYLEPTIDAE)

Abstract

Males of the Neotropical harvestman Ampheres leucopheus (Mello-Leitão 1922) were observed guarding egg-batches attached to the undersurface of leaves. As recorded for other paternal harvestmen, males of A. leucopheus guard egg-batches containing eggs in different developmental stages as well as newly hatched nymphs. This is the second case of paternal care recorded among gonyleptids and the fifth in the order Opiliones.