Abstract
The mating behavior of adult Tropilaelaps clareae males and females was observed in glass test tubes. The male jumped on the dorsum of the female, stretched legs I forward, and hooked their distal ends on the frontal margin of the female dorsum. He then slipped sideways to the female venter. In the venter-to-venter position, the male clasped the female between her legs I and II, with his legs I. The male then moved backwards until his gnathosoma reached about 1/2 way along the epigynial plate of the female. The male vibrated and probably pushed the spermatophore out of his body. Next he moved laterally and placed the gnathosoma between coxae III and IV where the gonopore is located. Probably the sperm was introduced into the gonopore by means of the spermatodactyl. Subsequently the male moved to one side and stroked the anterior part of the epigynial plate and the gonopore area with his leg II. He repeated these contacts on average 282 times (variation 100 up to 522). The male then moved on the other side of the female venter and repeated the whole procedure. Finally, the male withdrew himself backwards from the female. The total mating process lasted between 3 and 42 min, with an average of 23 min. Multiple matings of both, males and females were observed.
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Woyke, J. Mating behavior of the parasitic honeybee mite Tropilaelaps clareae . Exp Appl Acarol 18, 723–733 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00051539
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00051539