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Courtship and mating behavior ofBrachymeria lasus [Hym.: Chalcididae], an imported gypsy moth parasitoid

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Abstract

Brachymeria lasus (Walker) courtship behavior consists of a sequence of discrete, stereotypic behavioral components which culminate in copulation. Courtship behavior ofB. lasus is similar to that reported for the congener,B. intermedia (Nees); however, interbreeding between these species is obstructed by qualitative differences in behavioral components preceeding copulatory attempts. No hybridization between these species occurred, evidenced by the sex and morphology of resultant progeny of reciprocal pairings of these congeners.

Résumé

Le comportement sexuel deBrachymeria lasus (Walker) consiste en une suite de composantes éthologiques discrètes et stéréotypées qui s'achèvent par la copulation. Le comportement d'approche deB. lasus est semblable à celui deB. intermedia (Nees), mais l'accouplement entre ces 2 espèces est empêché par des différences qualitatives dans les composantes comportementales qui précèdent les essais de coït. Il n'y a donc pas d'hybridation entre ces espèces; ce qui est confirmé par le sexe et la morphologie de la descendance de couples réciproques de ces 2 congénères.

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Research supported by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources through the School of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin, Madison.

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Simser, D.H., Coppel, H.C. Courtship and mating behavior ofBrachymeria lasus [Hym.: Chalcididae], an imported gypsy moth parasitoid. Entomophaga 25, 349–355 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374695

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