An Evaluation on the Sexual Mutilation in Females of Gylippus Simon, 1879 species (Gylippinae, Gylippidae, Solifugae)

Abstract

The genital sternite is differentiated from other opisthosomal sternites in female gylippids and used for identification as a distinctive characteristic. In the present study, twenty-four female specimens belong to Gylippus Simon genus were examined. The female specimens collected from different localities of Turkey. Gylippus (Gylippus) erseni Koç&Erdek, 2019, Gylippus (Gylippus) syriacus Simon, 1872, Gylippus (Hemigylippus) bayrami Erdek, 2015, Gylippus (Paragylippus) monoceros Werner, 1905 and Gylippus sp. belong, including five different species It has been noted that, the male exhibits aggressive and compulsive behaviours after approaching the female during the mating period. The deformations and cuticular injuries on the genital segment, caused difficulties in species identification, are derived from the coercive copulation behaviour during the mating and premating process