Aspects of Mating Behavior of the Gypsy Moth

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Abstract
When virgin female Porthetria dispar (L.) actively released sex attractant they assumed a typical calling position and began a rhythmic protraction and partial retraction of the last abdominal segments or “ovipositor.” If disturbed or when contacted by the male, the “ovipositor” was withdrawn. Females showed a marked change in behavior soon after mating ended. They did not call and avoided males attempting to copulate. They became active and were negatively phototropic and positively geotropic in searching for suitable sites for egg laying. Once egg laying began they were not easily disturbed. Observations on the males indicated that in the presence of the attractant, sight assisted in location of the female. Males did not continue to pursue unreceptive females indefinitely. Such behavior in the 2 sexes would tend to make multiple mating infrequent in nature. Females in copulo for periods of 1–4 minutes produced relatively few, scattered, infertile eggs while those mated 8 minutes or more produced fertile eggs in normal egg masses. An increasing number of females was fertilized during copulation periods of 5, 6, and 7 minutes. There was some evidence that normal egg-laying behavior may be released in unfertilized females. Certain of the females mated for periods of 5, 6, and 7 minutes, although sterile, behaved like mated females and deposited egg masses normal in both appearance and number of eggs.