Mating initiation in water striders often comprises a forceful attempt by a male to mount the female. However, males often attempt to mate another male or mating pair. Han & Brooks (2013) quantified 'recognition sensitivity', the tendency to recognize potential mates (i.e. unmounted females) as opposed to inappropriate mates (i.e. other males or mating pairs), as the latency to dismount an inappropriate mate.

Han & Brooks (2013) studied recognition sensitivity in two contexts: when a male mounts another male (i.e. sex sensitivity), or a mating pair (i.e. mating status sensitivity). This video shows mating status sensitivity of Tenagogerris euphrosyne males.

Han, C. S., and R. C. Brooks. 2013. Evolution of individual variation in behaviour and behavioural plasticity under scramble competition. Anim. Behav. 86:435-442.

(Copyright) Chang Seok Han, hcspol@gmail.com

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