Reproductive behaviour of Forficula vicaria Semenov, 1902 (Dermaptera, Forfi culidae)

Abstract

Information on copulation and reproduction of the earwig For cula vicaria Semenov (Dermaptera, For culidae) in Primorskii Territory is presented. The total period of reproductive activity lasts from 47 to 52 days. The rst copulating pairs were recorded at the beginning of the 3rd ten days of August, and the last ones, in mid-October. The time of the joint stay of the male and female before the start of copulation in the cages was 28 days for the pair formed at the end of July, 17 days at the beginning of August, 5 days in the middle of August, and less than a day at the end of August. Over the entire period of observation of individual pairs, 11-17 repeated copulations were registered. During the day, the number of repeated copulations in this species ranged from one to three, each lasting from 30 minutes to 10 hours with interruptions from 20 minutes to 9 hours, and, after copulation, active feeding of insects was observed for 1.5-4 hours. Females start laying eggs at the end of September. The fecundity of females ranges from 52 to 71 eggs, and the number of eggs laid between matings during the day ranges from 4 to 33. Mature eggs are present in the ovaries of females until mid-October. For cula vicaria is characterized by the parental care for o spring. Under natural conditions, from mid-September, earwigs dig holes in which they hibernate, protecting the eggs.