FEMALE MATING-BEHAVIOR IN THE FIELD CRICKET, GRYLLUS-PENNSYLVANICUS (ORTHOPTERA, GRYLLIDAE) AT DIFFERENT OPERATIONAL SEX-RATIOS

The influence of operational sex ratio on the mating behavior of femal e field crickets, Gryllus pennsylvanicus, was investigated, Females we re predicted to be more discriminating under conditions of high mate a vailability and show less selectivity when males were rare. Such selec tivity was indicated in this study with the proportion of courtships l eading to a mating changing with sex ratio, Females accepted almost 70 % of all courtships at the female-biased sex ratio, but only about hal f of all courtships were successful at even or male-biased sex ratios. Females moved least at the female-biased sex ratio, There was also a trend for females to be guarded more under male-biased conditions. Fem ale weight did not influence any of the behaviors examined.