In order to mate, the male crawls beneath the female and 

 clings to her so that the two ventral surfaces are in apposition. 

 After dilation and stiraulation of the female orifice by insertion 

 and movement of male mouthparts, a spermatophore issviing from the 

 male genital aperture is grasped by the male's mouthparts and 

 transferred to the female genital aperture, ^Coxal fluid is 

 emitted by the male during the course of these activities ac- 

 cording to Nuttall and Merriman, but Dr, G. E, Davis and Dr, W, 

 Burgdorfer state (conversation) that they have not observed this. 

 It is possible that coxal fluid may or may not be emitted at this 

 time, due either to copiousness of supply or to degree of excite- 

 ment ,_7 



The spermatophore is bulb shaped (Figure ^2J as it issues. 

 After the male applies it to the female aperture, contraction 

 and evagination force out the long neck with the capsules (Figure 

 4.3) that are inserted into the aperture. Most of the spermatids 

 are forced into the capsules but the bulb remains outside the 

 female apertvire and drops off sooner or later. As many as ten 

 bulbs have been seen in situ. The neck dries and twists, making 

 an effective seal at tEe capsule closure. After five days at 

 3CPC,, the now mature sperms escape into the uterus by rupture 

 of the capsxile wall, ^For further details, see Robinson (1942B),7 



As stated below, the initial fertilization usxially occurs 

 shortly following molting to the adult stage, and females first 

 feed about two days afterwards. They may feed before mating, 

 presiunably chiefly when males are not readily available. How- 

 ever, according to Jobling, the period of time between fertiliza- 

 tion and feeding has no effect upon the period between feeding 

 and oviposition. 



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