Mating behavior in vision‐deprived American lobsters,homarvs americanus

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Abstract
Precopulatory and agonistic behaviors were studied in temporarily blinded lobsters. Sex recognition, as indicated by significant, stereotypical changes in behaviors, occurred between an intermolt stage male and intermolt, premolt, or postmolt stage females. Courtship and mating also proceeded normally in these lobster pairs. These observations suggest that vision may not be important for aspects of courtship and mating involving short distance interactions. In addition, mating by intermolt and postmolt female lobsters was investigated. Intermolt female lobsters, prevented from mating since the previous ecdysis, all underwent normal courtship and mating when presented with a male up to 80 days after molting. Postmolt females significantly shortened the courtship durations of subsequent multiple matings when singularly presented with additional males. These results suggest that the female lobster retains information about her mating status during the current molting cycle.