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The mating behavior of wild melon flies, Dacus cucurbitae COQUILLETT, released on a field-caged non-host tree (coral tree) was observed. When the light intensity decreased toward dusk, males stationed themselves on the bottom surface of leaves and formed a lek. In the lek, males were stationary, then engaged in wing vibration and released a sex pheromone. Each male individually occupied a leaf as a territory and defended it against other males which approached. When the males began to release pheromone, a female approached a chosen male from the front, and the male attempted copulation.
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Kuba et al. (1985) studied this question.
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