The negative correlation between the number of matings (specially with mated and non-mated females) versus pre-oviposition, oviposition periods and female longevity (Figures 2-4), reinforces the need to account the
spermatophore number in reproductive studies (e.g., Rogers and Marti Junior, 1997; Montezano et al., 2013b, 2014a, 2015).
Moreover, some of the females in Paajarvi were bearing egg sacs but had no
spermatophores attached to their bodies, suggesting that mating had not taken place for these individuals.
For male weta, successful transfer of
spermatophores was recorded as well as attempts to mate, defined as curling the abdomen to position for mating.
Finally, the presence of
spermatophores attached to females can also be used to identify functionally mature individuals and determine SMM (Tirmizi, 1958; Segura & Delgado, 2012).
We also judged, based on the frequent mating activities observed, that the 26 d period was sufficient for females to pick up necessary
spermatophores for fertilization.
If I tried to use the word
spermatophore in general conversation, I would definitely regret it.
Rhainds, "Field assessment of female mating success based on the presence-absence of
spermatophore: a case study with spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana" Annales Zoologici Fennici, vol.
This appears to be the third record of a
spermatophore in a species of Streptaxidae, after reports in Sinistrexcisa de Winter, Gomez & Prieto, 1999, and Dadagulella Rowson & Tattersfield, 2013 (de Winter et al.
Date Nauplii I II III IV V Male Female Total # per # [m.sup.3] September 2 3 1 22 151 185 363 515 30 October 12 160 191 364 574 23 November 4 175 163 342 588 17 December 3 290 236 529 941 1 December 327 292 619 1176 23 January 393 357 750 1470 13 January 1 438 350 789 1578 29 (1) February 77 90 (2) 167 354 13 March I 1 521 410 932 2050 March 16 186 173 359 833 April 6 352 301 653 1515 May 5 59 295 225 579 1343 June 15 8 396 614 1018 2361 (1) (3) July 8 100 Average # 284 276 574 1177 animals Date # per [m.sup.2] September 1668 30 October 1860 23 November 1905 17 December 3049 1 December 3810 23 January 4763 13 January 5113 29 February 1147 13 March I 6642 March 16 2699 April 6 4908 May 5 4351 June 15 7650 July 8 Average # 3813 animals (1.) Three
spermatophores. (2.) One
spermatophore.