238 Biology unci Economic Significance of Tipula paludosa 



most were ready upon opportunity to pair a number of times. The 

 following are additional notes. 



F 12 placed in vessel with males, M 11, M 12, and M 13. M 11 

 attempted coitus and failed. M 12 succeeded. M 12 subsequently 

 mated with F 13. 



F 16, F 17, F 18 placed in a vessel containing a crowd of males. 

 The males immediately flew to them and in a few seconds all three 

 females were mated. 



F 20 and M 17, both hatched on the morning of 18th July. They 

 mated at 10.30 a.m. During the day she oviposited. F 21 and M 18, 

 hatched later in the day, both mated. F 21 had defective wings. 

 These four insects were placed together. Both pairs mated again in 

 the evening. On the following evening F 20 mated once more with 

 either M 17 or M 18. By this time she had become quite slender, 

 and had evidently oviposited freely. 



F25, hatched on 28th July. Placed with M 24. Mated and 

 oviposited. On the 30th she was placed with 14 males captured in 

 the open. There was much commotion on her arrival and in a short 

 time one of the males succeeded in mating with her. 



F 27, hatched 6th August. Dropped into vessel containing M 21, 

 M 25, and others. An immediate contest for her took place: mating 

 successful. 



F 28. Placed with the foregoing, with same result. The males 

 immediately surrounded her, and mating was effected in the course 

 of a few seconds. 



In seeking to effect coitus, the male alights above the female and 

 prevents her escape, should she attempt it, by intermingling of their 

 limbs. Meantime his abdomen, which is now markedly upturned at the 

 tip, is passed below that of his mate. The widely gaping claspers seize 

 her on the thickened basal part of the ovipositor and the hold having 

 been made secure the pair rest a few moments in this position. The 

 male, now releasing his hold by the limbs, turns round so as to face in 

 the opposite direction from the female. This is the position maintained 

 until separation takes place. Sometimes the wings are folded, but more 

 usually in l»oth sexes they are extended. During coitus the antennae 

 of the male continue in active backward and forward quivering motion. 

 In his case too, the halteres quiver periodically in spasms of about a 

 second's duration and at frequent but irregular intervals. This last 



