Copulation postures in Lepidoptera (Insecta)

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  • 鱗翅類の交尾形式

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Abstract

In copulation, most Lepidoptera unite with their abdomens end-to-end, their heads pointing in opposite directions, and their forewings making slopes to both sides like a roof. We call it "roof type" copulation. However, the slope of the roof varies according to differences in length of the body and size of the wings. In a typical case "female's wings cover male's wings (FCM)" or conversely "male's wings cover female's (MCF)". In these cases, the female always occupies the upper side with her head pointing upward during copulation on inclined slope or vertical surface. We call this "female dominant (FD)". "Male dominant (MD)" is possible but very exceptional. Females always keep the position FD with very rare exception. In the case of wing arrangement, FCM is apparently dominant, but often MCF occurs under natural condition. We classify copulation in Lepidoptera, especially nocturnal moths, into five postures as follows: Subtype 1-Typical roof type (RT); Subtype 2-1-V-shaped posture (VSP); Subtype 2-2-Face-to-face posture (FFP); Subtype 3-1-Horizontal wing posture (HWP); and Subtype 3-2-Butterfly posture (BP). All subtypes may be derived from a primitive RT; Subtype 1 is the true RT in the strict sense. In Subtype 2, the heads of both sexes point upward when resting on inclined slope or vertical surface. VSP is V-shaped copulation, in which the male approaches the female laterally, hence their bodies make a V shape. In FFP, the male later on moves to his partner's ventral side and assumes face-to-face posture. In HWP, as the wing size becomes larger, and the abdomen size becomes slender, the slope of RT is reduced gradually, finally becoming almost horizontal. If during copulation, the pair's wings are held horizontally, we call it HWP. And in BP, the pair's wings are held upright on their backs.

Journal

  • Lepidoptera Science

    Lepidoptera Science 54 (1), 47-67, 2003

    THE LEPIDOPTEROLOGICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN

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