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24 hrs after feeding. Matings with blood-fed females were observed 

 almost immediately after they were released into the chamber. 

 Mating behavior of laboratory-reared Lu. diabol ica almost 

 invariably follows a 6-step sequence: 



1. Orientation. The male, upon noticing the female, aligns his 

 body parallel with hers and faces in the same direction. 



2. Pursuit. The male does not touch the female, but pursues her 

 if she moves to another location. 



3. Wing fluttering. The male flutters his wings repeatedly over 

 his body. This may occur during all steps, whether he is stationary 

 or in pursuit. 



4. Abdomen waving. The male waves his abdomen from side to side 

 or curls it 180° in a J-shape, left and right. This may be performed 

 when the female is not in the immediate vicinity. 



5. Precoupling. The male closely approaches the female and 

 adopts a stance parallel to hers and faces in the same direction for 

 several seconds. 



6. Coupling. While still in the precoupling stance, the male 

 curves the tip of his abdomen 180° in the female's direction and grasps 

 the tip of her abdomen with his genital claspers (gonostyles). He 

 then abruptly straightens his abdomen and realigns his body end-to-end 

 with the female. Vigorous wing fluttering follows intromission of the 

 male genitalia and continues periodically throughout the copulatory 

 period, particularly when the female attempts to move or uncouple. 

 During copulation the pair usually remains stationary but may move 

 about and fly in copula. 



