Female monopolization and paternity assurance in South American crickets (Orthoptera, Grylloidea): Mating plugs, extra claspers and forced copulation

Abstract

This paper describes the first three cases in which male crickets monopolize females by means of mating plugs. The origin of the plugs vary among the cases (i.e., they are not homologous). Female monogamy is assured by the permanent presence of the plug attached to their genitalia after first mating, while males are potentially polygamous. The presence of an additional clasping structure and the occurrence of forced copulation are also described.