Dancing close together in the woods: mate-guarding behavior might explain sexual dimorphism in Chrysoprasis auriventris auriventris Redtenbacher, 1868 (Coleoptera: Cerambycinae)

ABSTRACT

A fortuitous observation of mate-guarding behavior of male Chrysoprasis a. auriventris is presented here. In our observation, a male hold onto the female's body using his forelegs and walks along with her while she lays the eggs into the trunk slits. While guarding the female, the male adopted aggressive postures and attacked rival males that approached her. We suggest that the mate-guarding behavior may explain the male's elongated mid and hindlegs in this species, under a functional perspective. Additionally, a new host plant association was recorded.

Keywords:
Functional morphology; Longhorn beetles; Mating; Post-copula behavior; Sexual selection