Richard Freitag

Mating behavior and genitalic counterparts in tiger beetles (Carabidae: Cicindelinae)

Comparative studies on the structure of genitalia in Pseudoxychila tarsalis Bates and the copulating behavior in 5 species of Cicindela respectively complement similar findings by Freitag [1] on Cicindela spp. and Palmer [4] on P. tarsalis. These strengthen the hypothesis that in tiger beetles the flagellum fits into the spermatheca duct during copulation; that the main function of the flagellum, which is closed at the apex and not connected to the ejaculatory duct, is to open and prepare the lumen of the spermatheca duct for sperm movement from the bursa copulatrix to the spermatheca; and that copulation proceeds in 3 phases: phase 1 in which the lumen of the spermatheca duct is cleared by the flagellum, phase 2 in which the flagellum is withdrawn from the spermatheca duct, and phase 3 in which semen is transferred from the gonopore of the ejaculatory duct to the bursa copulatrix, usually with a spermatophore.

Copulatory locus, structure and function of the flagellum of Cicindela tranquebarica Herbst (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae)

Summary Dissected genitalia of mating pairs of C. tranquebarica frozen in liquid nitrogen revealed that the flagellum enters the spericatheca duct as hypothesized by Freitag (Can. Entomol., 98 (1966) 942–952), and Freitag et al. (Freitag, R., Olynyk, J.E. and Barnes, B.L., Int. J. Invertebr. Reprod., 2 (1980) 131–135). The flagellum contains a deep groove along its entire length, and appressed hook-like structures which grip the walls of the spermatheca duct during copulation. Insertion of the flagellum probably clears the spermatheca duct of debris and allows seminal fluids to enter.

Aspects of Smallmouth Bass, Micropterus dolomieui, Life History in Northwestern Ontario, Canada

ABSTRACT In 1990 smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui) spawning and nesting chronology, age composition, and growth were compared among three lakes near Thunder Bay, Ontario. Spawning in Two Island Lake commenced on June 4 and ended June 14. Parental male protection of the brood in Two Island Lake lasted 17 to 30 days per nest, and was completed by July 6. Larval development at Two Island Lake was advanced relative to Oliver Lake. Age frequency distributions of bass at Two Island Lake and Cloud Lake were significantly similar, while overall growth at Two Island Lake was more rapid than at Cloud Lake. Life history variation among the three lakes was likely due to different temperature regimes and smallmouth bass densities.