Abstract
Currently, information on the biology of Plecoptera from China is scarce, particularly on mating behavior. In this paper, the existence of mating mistakes (erroneous mating attempts) involving 13 Chinese stonefly species (belonging to nine genera and three families) is reported. These erroneous mating behaviors can be included into three different categories: mating attempts between conspecific males (including the formation of erroneous mating balls), mating attempts between different taxa (including displacement attempts during copulation), and mating-related behaviors with non-living objects. From these behaviors, some aspects of stoneflies during mating, such as the physical competition between males, the sensorial mechanisms implied in triggering a mating behavior, the conditions favoring the mating mistakes, and the possible consequences of interspecific mating in the hybrid production, are discussed.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
China Scholarship Council
the Project of Biological Resources Survey in Wuyishan National Park
Investigation and Evaluation of Insect Resources in Huangshan Scenic Spot
the Insect fauna of Qilian Mountain National Park (Qinghai): Volume of Lepidoptera and Diptera