Triphleba Rondani, 1856

Triphleba Rondani View in CoL (total of eight photos of five mating events examined: Figure 6 View Figure 6 A-H)

The photos show that body-size sexual dimorphism occurs in Triphleba with males larger than females ( Figure 6E View Figure 6 ) as well as females larger than males ( Figure 6A View Figure 6 ). In general, the genus apparently has a standard mating position, with males often reaching more anteriorly than usual, even contacting the female’s scutum ( Figure 6D View Figure 6 ) or base of the wing ( Figure 6A,B,E View Figure 6 ). In many species, Triphleba males have an enlarged first flagellomere compared to the female (eg Figure 6D,E View Figure 6 ). The photos do not, however, help to understand the role of this feature. Additionally, a Triphleba female captured in copula shows a remarkable unreported characteristic for the genus: two large sacs expanding laterally from the abdomen, each bearing a group of stout long setae ( Figure 6G,H View Figure 6 ).