Transfer of spermatophore in Black-horned Tree Cricket pair

This male pursued the female by standing in front of her, raising his wings to expose his metanotal gland, and then sang to get her attention. Watch as the female feeds from the metanotal gland -- then curls her abdomen down so the the distal tip is within reach of the distal tip of the male's abdomen. Note how the male grabs her with the two projections (cerci) at the tip of his abdomen -- pulls her tightly against him -- and then there is a sudden release as the two separate. If you look closely, you can see the small pinkish gold orb - the spermatophore - now attached on the far left side of the female's abdomen. It has a slender tubelike port which has been inserted into the female, and the sperm begins draining immediately. Watch as the female backs away from the male -- he frantically starts singing again to bring her back to feed from his metanotal gland. This is to distract her from plucking the spermatophore off before the sperm has completely emptied into her.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Black-horned
• nigricornis
• oecanthus
• oecanthinae
• metanotal
• tree crickets