ONH

Nisquallia olympica mating

  • 7947
  • 0235
  • 7673
  • 8278
  • 9004
  • 9007
  • 3840
  • 1840738
  • 1840744
  • 1840745
  • 1840746
  • 1840760
  • 7947
    1 - Nisquallia olympica mating. In this case, the pair consists of a typically dark gray male and a rusty orange female.

    08/14/2008 Obstruction Point Area, Olympic National Park, Washington

  • 0235
    2 - Nisquallia olympica mating.

    08/23/2010 Obstruction Point Area, Olympic National Park, Washington

  • 7673
    3 - Nisquallia olympica mating.

    09/05/2011 Sunrise Ridge Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington

  • 8278
    4 - Nisquallia olympica mating.

    09/19/2011 Obstruction Point Area, Olympic National Park, Washington

  • 9004
    5 - Nisquallia olympica mating.

    10/19/2011 Sunrise Ridge Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington

  • 9007
    6 - Nisquallia olympica mating, the same pair as in slide 5.

    10/19/2011 Sunrise Ridge Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington

  • 3840
    7 - Nisquallia olympica mating.

    10/09/2009 photographed in a terrarium

  • 1840738
    8 - Nisquallia olympica mating. Slides 8-12 show the initiation of mating.

    The male is mate guarding.

    09/06/2018 Obstruction Point Road, Olympic National Park, Washington

  • 1840744
    9 - Nisquallia olympica mating. Slides 8-12 show the initiation of mating.

    The male begins to evert his aedeagus.

    09/06/2018 Obstruction Point Road, Olympic National Park, Washington

  • 1840745
    10 - Nisquallia olympica mating. Slides 8-12 show the initiation of mating.

    The male begins to twist his abdomen under the female’s abdomen.

    09/06/2018 Obstruction Point Road, Olympic National Park, Washington

  • 1840746
    11 - Nisquallia olympica mating. Slides 8-12 show the initiation of mating.

    The male twists his abdomen under the female’s abdomen and appears to grasp the female with his hind leg.

    09/06/2018 Obstruction Point Road, Olympic National Park, Washington

  • 1840760
    12 - Nisquallia olympica mating. Slides 8-12 show the initiation of mating.

    09/06/2018 Obstruction Point Road, Olympic National Park, Washington

Once adults begin to appear, it’s common to see mating pairs. Males cling to females with his abdomen curled around and under the female’s abdomen. The female continues to walk around, sometimes eating. A female will often jump when disturbed, sometimes without dislodging the male. While mating, the male usually holds his antennae and his hind legs up. As with many species, males guard recently mated females (see Mate Guarding in the Nisquallia menu).