1977] 
Lanigan & Barrows — Murgantia histrionica 
195 
Figure 2. Murgantia histrionica in copula on radish foliage. The male faces to 
the right and lacks part of his right antenna. 
two males, with two females. One male copulated once, and 1 1 
other males did not copulate. Two females copulated with three 
different males; six females, with two males; seven females, with 
one male; and five females did not copulate. 
Discussion 
Gamboa and Alcock (1973) reported three major methods by 
which pentatomids initiate copulation, one of which involves males 
and females facing in opposite directions, which we found in M. 
histrionica. Fish and Alcock (1973) noted that other species which 
employ this method have similar courtship behaviors. They listed 
four main behaviors shared by species of this group: (i) male an- 
tennation of the female, (ii) male attempt to lift the female abdo- 
men with his head, (iii) abdominal elevation by receptive females, 
and (iv) male antennal and aedeagal stimulation of female abdo- 
mens. Fish and Alcock conclude that males attempt to induce fe- 
males to assume positions that facilitate aedeagal insertion. Mem- 
bers of at least six other genera of pentatomids, besides Murgantia, 
