MATING BEHAVIOUR AND ITS IMPACT ON OVIPOSITION PATTERN AND HATCHABILITY IN ACANTHASPIS SIVA DISTANT (HETEROPTERA : REDUVIIDAE)
DUNSTON P AMBROSE *
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, ST. XAVIER'S COLLEGE, PALAYANKOTTAI-627002, INDIA.
DAVID LIVINGSTONE *
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, BHARATHIYAR UNIVERsiTY, COMBATORE-41 U4, INDIA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The order of sequential pattern of mating in Acanthaspis siva is arousal, approach, nuptial clasp, extension of genitalia and achievement of connection and post copulatory acts. Impact of mating on adult female longevity, fecundity and hatchability is established. Females that mated with different males of different ages prove to be reproductively efficient than the other three groups of females studied viz virgins, females that mated once and females that mated with one male of the same age.