# Mating Behavior of Cyclocephala barrerai Martínez (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae)

## TL;DR

This study explores the mating behavior of the beetle Cyclocephala barrerai, revealing distinct stages and differences between virgin and mated individuals.

## Contribution

The study provides a detailed ethological framework for the mating behavior of C. barrerai, highlighting behavioral differences between virgin and once-mated beetles.

## Key findings

- Premating and postmating behaviors differ between virgin and once-mated beetles.
- Previous mating does not affect the time spent in mating-related activities.
- Mating behavior is divided into three distinct stages: premating, mating, and postmating.

## Abstract

This comprehensive study delves into the mating behavior of virgin and mated males and females of the beetle Cyclocephala barrerai. The mating process in C. barrerai is meticulously dissected into three distinct stages, each characterized by specific behaviors: premating, mating, and postmating. During premating, males actively seek and court females, while females initially resist before consenting to mate. The mating involves males mounting and continuously stimulating females while females display specific head movements. Postmating, males guard the females to prevent them from mating with other males. This study uncovers clear differences in the behaviors observed during the premating and postmating stages between virgin and once-mated organisms. However, previous matings did not influence the time invested in searching for, courting, or mating with a female. This work provides a comprehensive understanding of mating in C. barrerai and serves as a crucial point of comparison for future research into its physiology, morphology, and chemical communication.

Our study aimed to characterize mating behavior in virgin and once-mated males and females of Cyclocephala barrerai. We reared the specimens under laboratory conditions and recorded the age at which the organisms began their reproductive activity and the time they remained active. We characterized behavioral acts during mating in two groups—virgin and once-mated organisms. Transitions between behaviors were analyzed using Markov chains and the generated ethograms. The duration of behaviors and the percentage of transitions were compared between the two groups. To characterize the mating behavior of C. barrerai, we adopted a framework commonly used in the literature, dividing mating behavior into three phases: premating, mating, and postmating. (A) Premating: Males search for females and mount and stimulate them, which the females resist through fighting behaviors. (B) Mating: The male mounts the female, which moves around and then stops; the male performs specific movements of the antennae and head and inserts his aedeagus into the female. (C) Postmating: Males exhibit guarding behavior over females. Although differences in pre- and postmating behaviors were observed between virgin and once-mated organisms, the duration of the acts did not show significant differences. These results provide key information on the reproductive behavior of C. barrerai, contributing to a better understanding of their biology and sexual interaction patterns.