Courtship and Mating Behavior of the Cockroach Oxyhaloa deusta [Thunberg, 1784] (Blaberidae, Oxyhaloinae): Attraction Bioassays and Morphology of the Pheromone Sources

Abstract

In this paper, we focus on the reproductive behavior of the cockroach Oxyhaloa deusta. Within the Oxyhaloinae subfamily, mating strategies and glandular areas involved in pheromone production have been studied for several genera belonging to the Nauphoetini and Gromphadorhini tribes. However, this is the first time that courtship and mating behavior have been explored within the genus Oxyhaloa, and in a more general way within the Oxyhaloini tribe. This work, comprising behavioral observations, olfactometric bio-assays and morphological data, highlights unusual behaviors and novelties in potential sex pheromone gland location, in both males (tergite 8) and females (supra-valvular area). Surprisingly, our results also indicate that mate finding is initiated by the female. This is quite remarkable inasmuch as the Oxyhaloinae subfamily is the only cockroach group in which males initiate mate finding by means of a sex pheromone, emitted during the calling posture by extending abdominal tergites. In the Oxyhaloinae subfamily, this occurrence of various reproductive behavioral patterns (including all the mating patterns known at present in Blattaria) in closely-related species is striking, and makes this group a suitable model for studying the changes in mating behavior correlated with the location of sexual glands.

Gender identity and sexual experience affect mating behaviour and chemical profile in the lesser mealworm,Alphitobius diaperinus(Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

“…To achieve sexual reproduction, insect adults develop a set of behavioural displays (i.e., mating behaviour), which involves partner recognition, courtship, and copulation (44,63,64). In this regard, sexual communication in insects is based on visual, olfactory, tactile and even auditory stimuli (62,65,66).…”

“…In this regard, sexual communication in insects is based on visual, olfactory, tactile and even auditory stimuli (62,65,66). From those mentioned, olfactory stimuli based on chemicals are by far the most critical signals (64,67–69). Chemical signalling in sexual behaviour systems involves highly volatile compounds that promote attractiveness over long distances and compounds that can influence close-range orientation; these chemicals are perceived by direct antennal contact with the insect cuticles (58,60,67,68).…”

“…Insect cuticles are made by a lipid wax layer, in which cuticular hydrocarbons (CHC) are a significant contributor (49,70,71). Besides their function of limiting water loss and reducing external damage by toxins and pathogens, CHCs also play a critical role in chemical communication for species, nest or mate recognition, and signalling reproductive status (49,61,62,64,70,72–74). In beetles, volatiles associated with intra-specific long attraction is usually associated with aggregation pheromones; in contrast, low volatile and non-volatile compounds are associated with contact sex pheromones (58,72,75,76).…”