Courtship Behavior of Male Ceratitis Capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Captivity

Abstract

Video recordings of Ceratitis capitata courtship behavior revealed several hitherto unreported details. The droplet of pheromone at the tip of the male's abdomen during wing vibration was partially or completely retracted during wing buzzing and head rocking. Wing vibration gave way to wing buzzing and head rocking during the last 1-2 sec before the male attempted to mount the female; the male ceased rocking his head during the last 0.3 sec before a mounting attempt. Immediately after landing on the female, the male performed up to three additional types of apparent courtship before achieving intromission. The circumstances in which males attempted to mount females differed from those in which males abandoned courtship: the male was closer to the female and the two flies were oriented more directly toward each other. Neither reductions in distance nor more precise orientations appeared to be the immediate cues releasing mounting attempts, however.