Reproductive Behavior of Forficula vicaria Semenov, 1902 (Dermaptera, Forficulidae).

Data on reproduction of the earwig Forficula vicaria Semenov (Dermaptera, Forficulidae) in Primorskii Territory of Russia are presented. The total period of reproductive activity lasts from 47 to 52 days. The earliest mating couples were recorded at the beginning of the last third of August, and the latest ones, in mid-October. The time spent by the male and female in the cage before mating was 28 days for the couple formed in late July, 17 days for that formed in early August, 5 days for that formed in mid-August, and less than a day for that formed in late August. The couples mated repeatedly 11–17 times over the entire period of observation. From 1 to 3 copulations were recorded daily, each lasting from 30 min to 10 h with intervals varying from 20 min to 9 h. Active feeding was observed for 1.5–4 h after mating. Females started laying eggs in late September; their fecundity ranged from 52 to 71 eggs per female, and from 4 to 33 eggs were laid daily between copulations. Mature eggs were present in the ovaries of dissected females until mid-October. Forficula vicaria is characterized by parental care; starting with mid-September, the adults make wintering shelters in which they hibernate protecting their eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]