Figure 2

Swarm size dynamics (line graphs) over time in relation to mating dynamics (vertical bars). The nine swarms were observed over one evening (18 August 2008) and divided arbitrarily into three panels to avoid clutter. Each color in each panel represents a distinct swarm measured from the first sighting of swarming in that evening until the last male disappeared. To accommodate variation between swarms in absolute size, the number of males in each swarm and time point was expressed as the fraction of the peak swarm size. Likewise the number of couples per interval of 3 minutes is presented as the fraction from the corresponding maximal value of that swarm. Note that the scale of the couples was compressed and values were jittered horizontally by up to ± 0.3 minute to avoid clutter.