Knowledge of the reproductive ecology of insect pests is important for the development of sustainable pest control strategies. Mating behavior studies can provide insights about relevant aspects of intra- or intersexual communication processes, which may lead to sustainable control strategies based on behavioral disruption. The bronze bug, Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae), is an invasive eucalypt specialist that feeds and reproduces in aggregations on eucalypt leaves, causing defoliation and branch dieback in severe infestations. Scant information is available on its mating behavior, so we here report a systematic study of male–female and male-male interactions under controlled experimental conditions. Unmated, sexually mature naive males and females were paired and videotaped from two angles to describe and quantify their behavioral interactions and transitions. Intersexual interactions included mounting, rejection, copulation, antennation and a post-copulatory behavior that we termed smearing and consisted of a rapid backward and forward movement by the male while still on top female. Antennation occurred during copulation, and it may be interpreted as copulatory courtship. Smearing occurred after copulation and positively correlates with total mating time, likely involving mate guarding. Behavioral correlations with size and age showed that female rejection is not affected by male size or age. Intrasexual interactions included two agonistic behaviors that we called sparring and riding, both likely involved in male-male competition and the establishment of male dominance in natural aggregations. Male intrasexual aggressiveness was not related to male size or age either. The results are discussed in relation to the potential functions of these behaviors in the mating system of T. peregrinus.

了解害虫的生殖生态学对于制定可持续的害虫控制策略很重要。交配行为研究可以提供有关性交或性交过程相关方面的见解，这可能会导致基于行为中断的可持续控制策略。青铜虫，Thaumastocoris peregrinus（半翅目：梭菌科），是侵入性的桉树专科植物，在桉树的叶片上以聚集体的形式进食和繁殖，在严重侵染时会引起落叶和枝条枯死。关于其交配行为的信息很少，因此我们在此报告了在受控实验条件下对男性和女性以及男性与男性之间相互作用的系统研究。将未交配，性成熟的未婚男性和女性配对并从两个角度进行录像，以描述和量化他们的行为互动和转变。男性间的互动包括坐骑，排斥，交配，触角和交配后的行为，我们称其为涂片，包括雄性在雌性上时迅速向前和向后运动。交配发生在交配过程中，并且可以解释为交配求偶。涂抹后发生涂抹，与整个交配时间呈正相关，可能涉及配偶保护。行为与大小和年龄的相关性表明，女性排斥反应不受男性大小或年龄的影响。男性间的互动包括两种相互竞争的行为，我们称之为陪练和骑行，这两种行为都可能参与男性竞争和自然聚集中男性主导地位的建立。男性的性行为也与男性的大小或年龄无关。讨论了与这些行为在交配系统中的潜在功能有关的结果。男性间的互动包括两种相互竞争的行为，我们称之为陪练和骑行，这两种行为都可能参与男性竞争和自然聚集中男性主导地位的建立。男性的性行为也与男性的大小或年龄无关。讨论了与这些行为在交配系统中的潜在功能有关的结果。男性间的互动包括两种相互竞争的行为，我们称之为陪练和骑行，这两种行为都可能参与男性竞争和自然聚集中男性主导地位的建立。男性的性行为也与男性的大小或年龄无关。讨论了与这些行为在交配系统中的潜在功能有关的结果。百日草（T. peregrinus）。