Mating Behavior and Sexual Response to Aggregation Pheromone of Rhynchophorus cruentatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Authors

  • Claudia Vanderbilt
  • Robin M. Giblin-Davis
  • Thomas J. Weissling

Abstract

Mating behavior of Rhynchophorus cruentatus (Fabricius) was investigated in the laboratory. The sequence of behaviors was consistent for all weevils that mated. Males exhibited rostral rubbing and antennal tapping before copulation, guarding females afterwards. Mating frequency and celerity were compared between sequestered male-female pairs and for focal males in simulated aggregations. Field-collected and virgin males in groups were significantly quicker to initiate mating behavior and attempted to mate more often per session than males in sequestered pairs. Increased sexual stimulation in weevil aggregations appears to be semiochemically-mediated. Visual and tactile cues were eliminated as contributing stimuli in simulated aggregation arenas. Males were significantly more stimulated to mate in the presence of synthetic aggregation pheromone, 5-methyl-4-octanol (cruentol) than in its absence. Key words: aggregation, mating behavior, pheromone, Rhynchophorus cruentatus, 5-methyl-4-octanol

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Published

1998-09-01

Issue

Vol. 81, No. 3 (September 1998)

Section

Literature Review Articles

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