MATING BEHAVIOR OF TWO <i>PSEUDOXYCHILA</i> BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: CICINDELIDAE)

Abstract

Abstract Copulations of Pseudoxychila tarsalis Bates and Pseudoxychila bipustulata Latreille consisted of 1–20 intromissions. The male performed four different genitalic movements: prying, thrusts, small thrusts, and pulls. The male also courted the female during copulation by rubbing her with his middle legs. The observed male behavior does not fit previous hypotheses concerning the phases of copulation in tiger beetles. The female sometimes ejected 1 or 2 spermatophores during or after copulation. There were geographic differences in quantitative aspects of P . tarsalis male copulatory behavior, and more pronounced differences between P . tarsalis and P . bipustulata . This variation could result from sexual selection by cryptic female choice on male copulatory behavior.