Sexual behaviour in Isotomidae (Collembola)

We studied the sexual behaviour of three isotomid species Vertagopus cinereus, Vertagopus pseudocinereus, and Proisotoma clavipila including (1) stimulation of the female by the male, (2) deposition of spermatophores, and (3) pushing the female over the spermatophore. A variety of behaviour never described before in Isotomidae were observed including fastening of the female abdomen by the antennae of the male, repeated stimulation of the ventral region of the female, and repeated capture of spermatophore by the female. We propose a functional explanation of male sexual secondary characters and of the setae of the abdomen in V. pseudocinereus.