Copulation duration variation in worm-like millipedes

Abstract Copulation duration is a response to seed competition. Of many determinants of copulation duration in arthropods, I investigated the variation in copulation duration of mate-guarding worm-like millipedes. The null hypothesis was mean copulations and standard deviation within copulation duration was independent. Copulation times and standard deviations were obtained from the literature for 11 millipede populations. Copulation period was highly correlated with standard deviations in southern African populations. These ranged from Calostreptus sp. (Sengwa) Doratogonus (=Alloporus) uncinatus (Hwange) and comprised three forest species. Female size was correlated with standard deviation in copulation duration in savannah millipedes. Male size was correlated with standard deviation in copulation duration in savannah millipedes. There was no significant difference between the correlation coefficients of male versus female change.