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Size-dependent precopulatory behavior as mate-securing tactic in the Japanese stag beetle, Prosopocoilus inclinatus (Coleoptera; Lucanidae)

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Abstract

Males of the Japanese stag beetle Prosopocoilus inclinatus show dimorphism in body size. Since females frequently resist male courtship behavior, males often fail to mate after encounters with females. The males of two morphs showed different precopulatory behavior. During encounters with females, small males acted more persistently against females’ resistance than large males by grasping the female more solidly and as a result, succeeded in copulation more frequently. This persistent precopulatory behavior could be regarded as an alternative mating tactic of small males that are inferior to large males in direct physical competition.

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Acknowledgements

We thank three anonymous reviewers and the editor for improving our manuscript. M. Maruyama, K. Fujimoto and S. Akimoto provided us useful information on the field of study and materials. H. Tatsuta gave us helpful comments on the manuscript. A. R. Chittenden and S. Ohnishi kindly edited the manuscript. Y. Saito and Y. Watanuki encouraged us during the course of this study. We express our sincere gratitude to them.

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Correspondence to Yasukazu Okada.

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Okada, Y., Hasegawa, E. Size-dependent precopulatory behavior as mate-securing tactic in the Japanese stag beetle, Prosopocoilus inclinatus (Coleoptera; Lucanidae). J Ethol 23, 99–102 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-004-0134-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-004-0134-2

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