Observations of false mating behavior in entocytherid ostracods from the northwestern United States

Five male entocytherid ostracods of four different species recovered from signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus were observed exhibiting false mating behaviors with either another adult male, an A1 sub-adult male, or an A3 juvenile of indeterminate species and sex. In all five instances, the ostracod being mated was not sclerotized, indicating recent molt. In one case, a male of Uncinocythere thektura was observed in false copulation with an A1 male of a different species, U. occidentalis, suggesting that taxonomic designations of females in mixed populations of Uncinocythere can be problematic. Possible reasons for false mating behavior include stress of being confined post-collection, lack of available females, or possibly males mistaking non-sclerotized partners for A1 females.