Abstract
The behavior of male Harmonia axyridis prior to and during copulation was studied.First, in order to investigate mate recognition by males, several kinds of models were presented to males and their response was observed. It was inferred that visual factors such as body size and shape were involved in mate recognition by males in a close idstance. Some chemical factor was suggested to be the main factor to release male copulatory behavior. Second, "body shaking", a characteristic behavior of a male during copulation, was analyzed in detail. This behavior was regular and rigid, and such characteristics suggested the direct control by the nervous system. By the experimental interruption of copulation, it was confirmed that body shaking was the process of sperm transfer. The mode of sperm transfer by spermatophore formation was also clarified.
