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Maternal behaviour of a webspinner (Order Embiidina)
Author(s) -
EDGERLY JANICE S.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
ecological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.865
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2311
pISSN - 0307-6946
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2311.1987.tb00979.x
Subject(s) - biology , nymph , zoology , reproduction , paternal care , ecology , pregnancy , offspring , genetics
. 1. This first detailed behavioural field study of any species within the order Embiidina (=Embioptera) examines the function of parental care in the webspinner Clothoda urichi (Saussure) (Clothodidae). 2. Time budgets of nymphs and females in different stages of reproduction differ significantly due, in part, to maternal behaviours. 3. Nymphs, non‐reproductive adult females and females with nymphs are active only at night when they feed and spin silk. In contrast, females with eggs guard their eggs both day and night, rarely feeding during the 6‐week period prior to hatch. 4. Females physically repel egg parasites. In addition, females construct a substantial egg mass covering, of substrate materials and silk, which hinders parasites.