Nicrophorus quadripunctatus
Mating
Mating
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### Mate searching

*N. quadripunctatus* males emit [pheromones](/wiki/Pheromone "Pheromone") to attract mates. To do so, they climb up to an elevated location and raise their abdomen in the air. Although not necessary for [copulation](/wiki/Copulation_%28zoology%29 "Copulation (zoology)"), males that have found a carcass prior to emitting [pheromones](/wiki/Pheromone "Pheromone") experience greater certainty of paternity. The female can either accept copulation by bending the tip of her abdomen upwards, or reject copulation by bending the tip of her [abdomen](/wiki/Abdomen "Abdomen") downwards. The latter behavior prevents the [intromission](/wiki/Copulation_%28zoology%29 "Copulation (zoology)") of the male [aedeagus](/wiki/Aedeagus "Aedeagus"), although the maneuver is not always successful.

There is frequent intrasexual conflict between males for female partners. Larger males are advantaged in these contests, and thus experience greater opportunity for copulation. Additionally, female *N. quadripunctatus* have been shown to accept copulation with larger males at higher rates, than with smaller males.  There is no difference in copulation duration between larger males and smaller males. Females use superior fighting ability as a proxy for fitness. Therefore, in selecting larger partners, they maximize reproductive success by mating with dominant males. There is no difference in copulation duration, however, between larger males and smaller males.

### Female/male interactions

Once a male and female mate, they often defend their brood together, even after the larvae have hatched. They will attack predators and any intruders cooperatively. Inferior individuals may stay in near proximity as a satellite male in case the male mate is injured or killed. Male and female mate pairs provide biparental care to the offspring and will work together to defend carcasses and feed larvae as well.


What happens if a female rejects copulation?