The mating behaviour of tsetse flies (Glossina): a review

Abstract

Abstract. The mode of reproduction of tsetse flies, by adenotrophic viviparity, is unusual among the Diptera and is associated with many unique aspects of the tsetse's mating system. Tsetse exist at relatively low densities in the environment but a combination of olfactory and visual stimuli brings males and virgin females together on or around host animals. The behavioural repertoire associated with mate location and identification, courtship and copulation is regulated by external physical and chemical stimuli as well as by internal physiological mechanisms. With a view to identifying stimuli that could be used to manipulate tsetse behaviour and exploited for control purposes, much progress has been made in recent years in elucidating the mating behaviour of tsetse and its regulatory mechanisms. This progress and the current state of understanding of tsetse mating behaviour is reviewed.

Experimental demonstration of possible cryptic female choice on male tsetse fly genitalia

“…Thus the male effect on ovulation documented by Saunders and Dodd (1972) that resulted from stimulation during copulation is apparently due to other stimuli in G. morsitans centralis. There are many other mechanical stimuli during copulation, including male copulatory courtship behavior such as wing vibrations and rubbing with his legs (Wall and Langley, 1993;Briceño and Eberhard, unpub. ), as well as complex thrusting movements of the male's phallosome within the female's reproductive tract (Briceñ o et al, in prep.).…”

“…In nature Glossina copulate near feeding sites (large mammals) (Wall and Langley, 1993). Field data are not sufficient to determine whether female G. morsitans mate more than once during a normal lifetime in the field, but they do remate in captivity (Gillott and Langley, 1981;below).…”

“…Males of G. morsitans perform energetic and sustained courtship behavior during copulation (Wall and Langley, 1993), and males also squeeze the female with vigorous, rhythmic, sustained movements of their genitalia; the temporal pattern of genital squeezing differs from that in G. pallidipes (Briceñ o and Eberhard, unpub. ), as would be expected if genital squeezing is under sexual selection.…”

“…Copulation in G. morsitans lasts about 45-120 min (Saunders and Dodd, 1972;Wall and Langley, 1993). A spermatophore is transferred toward the end of copulation (almost never before 45 min) (Saunders and Dodd, 1972).…”

Caracterización del comportamiento y las señales vibratorias en Euthyrhynchus floridanus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) durante el cortejo y la cópula

“…Se cree que el cortejo copulatorio funciona para activar en las hembras ciertas respuestas de comportamiento o fisiológicos (tales como transporte de esperma, ovulación, inhibición de aparearse nuevamente, prevenir la intromisión y eyaculación entre otros) que operan en función de los intereses reproductivos del macho (Eberhard, 1996;Briceño & Eberhard, 2009;Briceño & Eberbard, 2009a). Wall & Langley (1993) propusieron una hipótesis alternativa cuyo fin es el de «reforzar la unión copulativa», pero las observaciones realizadas hasta el momento en E. floridianus no ofrecen ninguna indicación de que la conducta del macho afecte el acoplamiento físico de sus genitales. El frote de los machos con sus patas, como se ha sugerido para la mosca tsetse en Glossina morsitans y G. austeni (Huyton & Langley, 1982), puede tener como función probable el inhibir los desplazamientos de las hembras.…”