Sexual behaviour and stridulation during mating in Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

Abstract

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 significantly less frequent with the post feeding time. Non-receptive females displayed four types of rejection behaviour, i.e. flattening, stridulation, evasion and abdominal movements. The occurrence of stridulation performed by females in a sexual context was observed in a regular fashion and was quantified for the first time in this species.

The sexual behaviour of Panstrongylus megistus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae): an experimental study

“…We found that the female determines the occurrence of a copula, given that it could be receptive or non-receptive to the mating attempts performed by males as it was observed in other triatomines (Manrique & Lazzari 1994). If non-receptive, it could refuse the male through different behaviours.…”

“…Males of P. megistus are the sex that actively performs the approximation of the couple, as in all triatomines studied to date. Manrique and Lazzari (1994) studying T. infestans, observed that these insects do not remain joined through their genitalia after the copula, but separate immediately after the male descends from the female. This behaviour allows the occurrence of successive copulas, aided by the fact that couples of this species apparently emit a pheromone that promotes the aggregation of males around the copulating pair.…”

“…The mating behaviour of several triatomine species has been the subject of diverse studies (Lima et al 1986a,b, Rojas et al 1990, Rojas & Cruz López 1992, Manrique & Lazzari 1994. In all cases, it was described as a sequence of definite steps performed by the male.…”

“…In all cases, it was described as a sequence of definite steps performed by the male. Nevertheless, except for Triatoma infestans (Klüg, 1834), the relevance of the behaviour of females in mating success has been relatively neglected (Lima 1985, Rojas et al 1990, Rojas & Cruz López 1992, Manrique & Lazzari 1994. Unlike many other insect species, triatomine bugs do not perform a stereotyped courtship behaviour in order to attract their partners (Lima 1985).…”

Distribution and characterization of nitric oxide synthase in the nervous system of Triatoma infestans (Insecta: Heteroptera)

“…Furthermore, activation of the NO/cGMP pathway has been able to inhibit sound production provoked by stimulation of muscarinic receptors in the central complex (Wenzel et al 2005). T. infestans possesses a well-developed stridulatory organ (Di Luciano 1981), and sound production has been related to mating behavior (Manrique and Lazzari 1994). Although the source of NOS-LI in the central body has not yet been identified, and since the function of this neuropil is unknown in T. infestans, NO release in this neuropil might be related to the control of sound production.…”