Precopulatory mate guarding in copepods

In many copepod species adult males clasp females for an extended period before transferring spermatophores. Clasping juvenile females (first to fifth copepodid inclusive) is interpreted as mate guarding and is shown to be widespread among podoplean copepods. It is distinct from copulation, which takes place only between adults and is often distinguishable from mate guarding by a difference in clasping posture.