Morphological adaptations associated with mate-guarding behaviour in the genus Hericia (Acari: Algophagidae)

摘要

Males of an undescribed astigmatic species of the algophagid genus Hericia demonstrate precopulatory contact mate-guarding behaviour. Adults are sexually dimorphic, and most of the morphological differences found in males are associated with guarding behaviour. In this regard, coxae IV of the male are located ventrally and mesiad of coxae III, thereby resulting in legs IV taking a position directly below legs III. Legs IV are also bowed ventrally and can be rotated forward to form a 'basket' underthe idiosoma. Males use their baskets for 'scooping' up quiescent tritonymphal females and holding them securely under their idiosomas. Males thereby guard immature females until they ecdyse to adults, at which time mating takes place. Some males were observed guarding adult females for extended periods of time, presumably after copulation. It is therefore possible that this species also exhibits post-insernination mate-guarding behaviour, however details concerning this behavior are poorly known.