Female control of mating sequences in the mountain scorpion Zabius fuscus: males do not use coercion as a response to unreceptive females

Abstract

Some current interpretations of male–female sexual interactions have implied that males can control female mating decisions. Here we analysed the main characteristics of female sexual receptivity of the mountain scorpion Zabius fuscus based on the premating behavioural patterns of virgin and inseminated females from natural or artificially interrupted matings. Males were used repeatedly in successive tests to evaluate females' levels of sexual receptivity (positive = accept, intermediate, negative = reject) and behavioural flexibility. Duration and frequency values of male behaviour patterns were correlated with the female's response. During the sexual recognition phase, the male performed vibratory movements of the body, termed vibration, which did not vary between the three groups of females (positive, intermediate and negative). In contrast, frequencies of occurrence of the principal male stimulatory behaviours, cheliceral massage and rubbing with legs, differed significantly between the three groups of females, reflecting a clear flexibility of male sexual behaviour according to the initial female response. Scorpion males appeared to use luring rather than coercive behaviours when facing resisting females. The observed patterns do not support the position that males override female means of mating control. Furthermore, morphologically based data indicate that postmating sexual receptivity in females is not affected by other male characteristics such as body or spermatophore size.