Male Age, Copulation Duration and Insemination Success in Mystacides azurea (Leptoceridae, Trichoptera)

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Abstract
Time in copula in the swarming caddis fly Mystacides azurea L. (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae) ranged from 0.33 to 44.5 min. It increased with male age (wing wear) and male dry weight, but was independent of male and female size (forewing length), female wing wear and number of eggs in the females. Older males failed to transfer sperm during copulation more frequently than did younger ones. It is suggested that females benefit by interrupting prolonged copulations if sperm is not transferred rapidly, since being in copula might increase the risk of predation. Alternatively, young and old males follow different mating tactics; old males have a lower chance to acquire new mates and they do better by monopolizing a female, once they get one, by prolonging the copulation.