POSSIBLE FEMALE CHOICE DURING COPULATION IN OZOPHORA-BARANOWSKII (HETEROPTERA, LYGAEIDAE) - FEMALE BEHAVIOR, MULTIPLE COPULATIONS, AND SPERM TRANSFER

The remarkable behavior of female Ozophora baranowskii of lightly tapp ing the male with the hind legs during copulation was studied in relat ion to multiple copulations, copulation length, and sperm transfer. Mu ltiple copulations did not affect female fecundity, fertility, or long evity. The incidence of tapping was higher in shorter copulations, whi ch did not result in sperm transfer to the female. Female tapping beha vior may be a mechanism for choosing between males after copulation ha s begun.