Abstract
Our goal in science is to generate principles of generality. Information on insects has been important in the development of our program of research on rodent reproductive behavior; I hope that the reverse effect might also be realized. Mammalian copulatory patterns can be classified with respect to locking, thrusting, multiple intromissions, and multiple ejaculations; application of a similar classification scheme might be useful with insects. In both insects and rodents variation in male genitalia and accessory glands appear correlated with reproductive behavior. Patterns of sperm competition are focal to the evolution of mating systems. Because there are important species differences in sperm competition, detailed study of both the basic pattern and the dynamics of sperm competition in a variety of species is warranted. There is evidence for female mate choice in both insects and rodents. Further, in both insects and rodents the capacity of males to produce ejaculates is limited; this implies a role for male choice in mate selection. Principles of the greatest generality will be developed if investigators can synthesize information from a wide range of taxa.
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