Abstract
Territorial behavior of overwintered individuals of Metrocoris histriowas observed in an upstream area. Adults of both sexes held territories, but male territories were larger than those of females. Severe competition occurred among males for territories which give them access to receptive females. The effects of male body length and midleg length on establishment of territories were not significant. The effect of female midleg length on activity of females entering preferred foraging sites was equally not significant. Instead, territorial behavior increased with male age and males stayed longer at prime sites. Females of intermediate age were likely to occupy prime sites. Females had longer territory residence time than males. The sexes were dimorphic with respect to midleg length, and dimorphism in M. histriomay be related to a difference in life history, in that sexual selection may be relaxed due to asynchronous adult emergence patterns.
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Koga, T., Hayashi, K. Territorial behavior of both sexes in the water striderMetrocoris histrio (Hemiptera: Gerridae) during the mating season. J Insect Behav 6, 65–77 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01049148
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01049148