SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR AND STRIDULATION DURING MATING IN TRIATOMA-INFESTANS (HEMIPTERA, REDUVIIDAE)

Factors affecting mating behaviour in the bug Triatoma infestans were quantitatively studied in the laboratory. Experimental conditions were established so that the probability of copulation increased with the time elapsed since the first adult meal. Copulatory attempts by males did not vary as a function of time, but rejections by females became s ignificantly less frequent with the post feeding time. Non-receptive f emales displayed four types of rejection behaviour i.e. flattening, st ridulation, evasion and abdominal movements. The occurrence of stridul ation performed by females in a sexual context was observed in a regul ar fashion and was quantified for the first time in this species.