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Analysis of the Territorial, Courtship and Coupling Behavior of the Hemipterophagous Butterfly, Spalgis epius (Westwood) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

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Abstract

In this study we examined the territorial, courtship and coupling behavior, mating interruptions and influence of sunlight on mating behavior in Spalgis epius (Westwood). We constructed an ethogram of territorial and courtship behavior, and catalogued the sequence of behavioral acts associated with mating behavior. Mating behavioral acts were divided into four repertoires i.e. pre-courtship, pre-coupling, coupling and post-coupling behaviors. Totally 22 behavioral acts were recorded from four repertoires. Tree canopy, canopy height and sunlight conditions are the important factors that influence copulation in S. epius. The courtship activity led to successful copulation in 71.9 % pairs. Incidence of different types of courtship and copula interruptions in S. epius was also recorded.

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Acknowledgements

The second author acknowledges the financial assistance [F. No.33-344/2007 (SR)] from the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, India to carry out the above work. The first author is grateful to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, for the award of Senior Research Fellowship.

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  1. Insect Science Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Bangalore University, Bengaluru, 560 056, India

    Anegunda S. Dinesh & Melally G. Venkatesha

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  1. Anegunda S. Dinesh
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  2. Melally G. Venkatesha
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Correspondence to Melally G. Venkatesha.

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Dinesh, A.S., Venkatesha, M.G. Analysis of the Territorial, Courtship and Coupling Behavior of the Hemipterophagous Butterfly, Spalgis epius (Westwood) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). J Insect Behav 26, 149–164 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-012-9341-9

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