Abstract
TheLethocerus deyrollei male copulates repeatedly with the same female before and between ovipositions. Females stopped oviposition and waited for the next copulation when males were experimentally removed. This result suggests that females need to copulate before each oviposition bout. Since eggs fail to hatch without care of males, females have to detain males until the end of sequential ovipositions. Males assure their paternity with repeated copulations, and females can thus detain males.
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Ichikawa, N. Repeated copulations benefit of the female inLethocerus deyrollei vuillefroy (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae). J. Ethol. 7, 113–117 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02350032
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02350032