DESCRIPTION OF THE SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR OF CAL LIPHORA-VOMITORIA (DIPTERA,CALLIPHORIDAE) USING A LEXICAL ANALYSIS TECHNIQUE

Description of the sexual behaviour of Calliphora vomitoria (Diptera: Calliphoridae) with a lexical analysis software package. The sexual be haviour of Calliphora vomitoria was described using a lexical analysis software package considering courtship as a series of words, without any arbitrary categorization. Normal as well as manipulated partners o f both sexes were presented to the males. Results showed that normal c ourtship and copulation occurred when the wings were modified but pres ent and correctly oriented, whereas perturbations were observed and co pulation disappeared after inversion and various head modifications. M issing elements (head and wings) were less disruptive than their inver sion. If the partner was supposed to be scanned from the head to the a bdomen via the wings and if it was supposed to perceive the relative p osition of these different parts, it is obvious that the absence of an element did not act as an error message and courtship and copulation were preserved. On the other hand, inversion of the same elements seem ed to induce wrong or inconsistent informations affecting courtship st ructure, probably because of sequence disturbance. The courtship prese rvation in front of every kind of manipulation leads us to question wh at image of the sexual partner is constructed.