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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids (Orthoptera) » Grasshoppers (Caelifera) » Lubber Grasshoppers (Romaleidae) » Lubber Grasshoppers (Romalea) » Eastern Lubber Grasshopper (Romalea microptera)
Photo#60915
Ovipositing/mate guarding - Romalea microptera - male - female
Copyright © 2006 Sean McCann

Ovipositing/mate guarding - Romalea microptera - Male Female
Pinelands Natural Area, St. Lucie County, Florida, USA
July 2, 2006
The female's abdomen was way down in the dirt. I suspect the male grasping her is performing some mate guarding, probably some sperm competition going on here.
Can anyone confirm?
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Contributed by Sean McCann on 2 July, 2006 - 2:09pm

Yes
In this group of species, the males often stay with the females after mating until the eggs are laid. Protecting their children I suppose you could say. I also think this is often when the tips of the wings get chewed off, as often seen in older individuals.
… David J. Ferguson, 18 December, 2008 - 5:43pm login or register to post comments

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