Mating Patterns in an Ambush Bug Phymata fasciata (Phymatidae)

Abstract

Male ambush bugs Phymatafasciata exhibit preand postcopulatory mate guarding. Predictions concerning mate-guarding behavior were tested by examining relationships between guarding and reproductive condition. Field collections of paired and single individuals were used to investigate size-related mating patterns within two populations. Generally, nonassortative mating was found and is discussed in the context of very low population densities. We found significant differences in the sizes of individuals between the two populations which might be a result of different resource