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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Elateriformia » Elateroidea » Soldier Beetles (Cantharidae) » Cantharinae » Cantharini » Cultellunguis » Cultellunguis perpallens » Cultellunguis perpallens sanctaeclarae
Photo#140837
Soldier Beetles Mating - Elateroidea Cantharidae - Cultellunguis perpallens - male - female
Copyright © 2007 Barry Grivett

Soldier Beetles Mating - Elateroidea Cantharidae - Cultellunguis perpallens - Male Female
San Jose/Alum Rock Park, Santa Clara County, California, USA
June 1, 2007
I'd appreciate input from anyone familiar with 'copulation genital lock' in beetles/insects--ordinarily only observed in canines. Some reason to believe it is the female draging the male who refuses to let go. Any information would be appreciated.

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Soldier Beetle - Elateroidea Cantharidae - Cultellunguis perpallens Soldier Beetles Mating - Elateroidea Cantharidae - Cultellunguis perpallens - male - female
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Contributed by Barry Grivett on 28 August, 2007 - 4:10pm
Last updated 30 November, 2009 - 10:00am

Moved
Moved from sp. 1 CA -- temporary page.
… v belov, 30 November, 2009 - 10:00am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Cantharis.
… v belov, 20 May, 2009 - 5:15pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Soldier Beetles.
… Joyce Gross, 7 October, 2008 - 5:00pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Podabrus pruinosus.
… Joyce Gross, 9 October, 2007 - 11:40pm login or register to post comments

Common in Cantharids, perhaps
See this photo:

the beetles remained coupled for four days.
I've seen photos and discussion of this somewhere, I think even in comments here on BugGuide but I can't find them at the moment. I've seen photos of European Cantharis (I think) with the male trailing behind the female, dead, but still coupled.
… Cotinis, 28 August, 2007 - 5:07pm login or register to post comments

 
Prolonged/Extended Copulation
An internet search finally revealed prolonged copulation is solely male controlled and offers males the possibility of manipulating paternity in their interest: (1) mate guarding in the presence of competitors can curb female remating & (2) not for sperm transfer; but, sperm migration may be stimulated.

The above purposes are served in 'social' insects and is negatively influenced by the presence of predators. The references I found were to bumble bees and walking sticks; but I am willing to tentatively generalize.
… Barry Grivett, 29 August, 2007 - 10:10pm login or register to post comments

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