![Sample our Environment & Agriculture journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5934/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Environment-Agriculture.jpg"})
Abstract
Precopulatory and mating behaviour of stenogamous black fly species (Diptera: Simuliidae) Simulium lineatum (Meigen, 1984) was investigated under natural conditions. Polygynous males were found as single individuals or assembled in small aggregations (1.8 ± 1.1 individuals on average) on calami (above water height up to 50 cm) or in larger aggregations on cattails (above water height up to 100 cm). Females were found both among single males and aggregated. Males demonstrate precopulatory behaviour (approaching, touching, attempting to copulate) both towards the female and male. The duration of touching and attempting to copulate differed significantly and lasted on average for: 13.5 ± 4.5 s when male interacted with a female and 6.9 ± 2.4 s when interacted with a male. The mean duration of copulation was 5.4 ± 1.1 min. The sex ratio of S. lineatum during the adults flying period was malebiased: during the first half of the season the ratio was 1:1.08 (by 4% emerged more males), whereas during the second half of the period the ratio was 1:1.4, with a significant shift of towards males (16%).