author(s)
Govindaraj Divya and Natchiappan Senthilkumar

abstract
Investigation on the influence of courtship feeding on fecundity of Conocephalus maculatus was studied during November, 2016 to April 2018. The spermatophylax produced by the male is eaten by the female over the following 4 hours after copulation and this had an influence on the number of eggs produced by C. maculatus. However, there was no significant difference in the weight and length of the eggs produced. Feeding on an extra spermatophylax resulted in more number of eggs, increased weight and length of eggs being produced per day. Females preferred to oviposit their eggs in the leaf sheaths of Panicum maximum and the incubation period ranged between 14-39 days. Most of the eggs hatched within two hours after midnight although the eggs began to hatch from 18hrs and ended by 12 hrs in the afternoon of the next day.