| Precopulatory mate guarding and mating behaviour of Tachidius discipes Giesbrecht, 1881, has been analysed using a video camera mounted on a microscope. Males preferably accompany fourth or fifth stage female copepodids during precopulatory mate guarding; only rarely are third copopodid stages guarded. Rare cases of males clasping juvenile males are also known. Males are active during mate guarding and constantly change the site of attachment of their antennules. This behaviour may ensure continued association of the adult male with the juvenile copepodid when the latter moults during the mate guarding phase. The final moult of the female, once observed only, lasts only 2 minutes. Copulation immediately follows but is preceded by the male’s control of the... |
