24 Psyche [February 
M. Courting and Mating. Courting in this insect is not a complex 
habit. It follows almost immediately after emergence, at least in 
confinement. Where a number of both sexes are gathered together, 
all recently emerged, the males and females are constantly in motion, 
the former active, seeking the females, the antennae of both sexes also 
constantly in motion, held inclined upward in the natural position, 
giving quick, jerky, wavy movements. When one individual meets 
another, the antennae simply touch whichever portion of the body 
presents itself first and the two turn aside and pass on; or if they happen 
to be individuals of opposite sex and (apparently) the occasion is suita- 
ble — which is most often the case immediately following emergence 
— the male hastily climbs upon the back of the female, runs forward, 
and grasps her head with the fore feet, usually at the lateral aspect of 
the eyes or sometimes at the cheeks; the intermediate feet grasp some 
portion of the thoracic pleura, usually at the mesothorax and the hind 
feet take hold along the sides of the abdomen or the edges of the flat 
wings. ‘The legs are not stretched out or used for embracing the 
body of the female but the hold is taken by the feet alone, and the 
position of the male is not strained but rather that of the natural 
position of rest. His body is parallel with and above the body of the 
female and projects beyond (cephalad) it, so that the head is between 
the upturned antennae of the female and stretched over hers, his 
abdomen reaching to a point above the third abdominal segment or to 
a point opposite to the distal end of the marginal vein of the fore wings 
upon which it actually rests. Having quickly attained this position, 
the male senses the antennae of the female with his own and imme- 
diately begins suit in earnest by rubbing his head up and down against 
the inner (mesal) surfaces of the flagella of the female,— which are 
held upward in a V-shaped position,— at the same time holding the 
scapes erect and apart and the flagella back, pointing laterad at right- 
angles to the scape and at every downward movement bringing the 
scapes together; this movement of the head is accompanied by a 
corresponding “‘petting” movement of the female flagella against 
the cheeks of the male. The up- and downward movements of the 
head are regular and continued for from 5 to 10 seconds, each com- 
pleted movement occupying slightly less than a second of time; and 
they are alternated with a period during which the head of the male is 
motionless and his antennae sensing those of his mate, either by touch- 
ing both of their tips to the tips of her antennae, or else by stroking 
