Lekking Behaviour and Male-Male Rivalry in the Melon Fly Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Most studies on the sexual behaviour of tephritid fruit flies are conducted in laboratory or field cage settings. Here, we present field data on the mating behaviour of the melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett). A number of Tephritidae are lekking species, forming aggregations in which males fight to defend a small territory where they court females and mate. Our results confirm that males of the melon flies congregated and engaged in wing vibration in the late afternoon on non-host plants, such as Ficus carica, Cydonia oblonga and Prunus persica which bordered cucurbit fields. The nature and outcome of male-male aggressive encounters are described, and a high degree of female mate selectivity is documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]