CHEMICAL BASIS OF COURTSHIP IN A BEETLE (NEOPYROCHROA-FLABELLATA) - CANTHARIDIN AS PRECOPULATORY ENTICING AGENT

Citation
T. Eisner et al., CHEMICAL BASIS OF COURTSHIP IN A BEETLE (NEOPYROCHROA-FLABELLATA) - CANTHARIDIN AS PRECOPULATORY ENTICING AGENT, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United Statesof America, 93(13), 1996, pp. 6494-6498
Citations number
9
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary Sciences
ISSN journal
00278424
Volume
93
Issue
13
Year of publication
1996
Pages
6494 - 6498
Database
ISI
SICI code
0027-8424(1996)93:13<6494:CBOCIA>2.0.ZU;2-Y
Abstract
Male Ncopyrochroa flabellata have a natural affinity for cantharidin ( Spanish fly). They are attracted to cantharidin baits in the field and feed on the compound if it is offered to them in the laboratory. Male s that ingest cantharidin secrete cantharidin from a cephalic gland, F emales sample secretion from this gland during courtship and mate pref erentially with males that had fed on cantharidin. Cantharidin-unfed m ales fan be rendered acceptable to females if cantharidin is added to their cephalic gland.