A SEX PHEROMONE IN THE INSECT RHODNIUS PROLIXUS (HEMIPTERA: REDUVIIDAE)

Abstract

In Rhodnius, a volatile substance produced by mating pairs is attractive to male insects. The pheromone acts also as a sexual stimulant; males respond in the absence of females by attempting copulation with other males. Air swept over mating pairs and conducted to a cage at a considerable distance proved to be highly attractive to males. Proximity of the sexes, without opportunity for actual contact, does not stimulate production of the pheromone. Since males and females will copulate only after a blood meal, feeding is a prerequisite to pheromone production. Also, unfed males will not respond to the attractant. Males of this nocturnal species were stimulated only in complete darkness.

Aggregation mediated by faeces and footprints in Triatoma pseudomaculata (Heteroptera: Reduviidae), a Chagas disease vector

“…In addition to the intraspecific assembling signals present in faeces (Schofield & Patterson 1977, Ondarza et al 1986, Lorenzo Figueiras et al 1994), a sex pheromone released during the copula which assembles male bugs was also reported for R. prolixus (Baldwin et al 1971) T. infestans (Manrique & Lazzari 1995). Lorenzo Figueiras and Lazzari (1998) described another chemical signal present in the cuticle (footprints) of T. infestans which promotes aggregation behaviour only through physical contact.…”

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

“…Several authors suggested that, during mating, chemical substances are released by one or both members of the couple that lead to the assembling of males around the couple (Baldwin et al 1971, Manrique & Lazzari 1995. Baldwin et al (1971) suggested that such substances may also have an "aphrodisiac" effect on Rhodnius prolixus (Stäl, 1859) males, as several mating attempts between individuals of this sex were observed by the authors.…”

“…Baldwin et al (1971) suggested that such substances may also have an "aphrodisiac" effect on Rhodnius prolixus (Stäl, 1859) males, as several mating attempts between individuals of this sex were observed by the authors. Manrique and Lazzari (1995) have suggested that the aggregation of males around mating couples would be associated to polyandry in T. infestans.…”

Aggregation Behaviour and Interspecific Responses in Three Species of Triatominae

“…infestans, T. mazzottii, T. longipennis, T. pallidipennis and T. barberi (Velázquez Antich 1968, Baldwin et al 1971, Schofield & Moreman 1976, Schofield & Patterson 1977, Ondarza et al 1986, Cruz-López et al 1993, Lorenzo Figueiras et al 1994, Manrique & Lazzari 1995. The specificity of these signals has been studied by Cruz-López et al (1993), who reported that an "interspecific aggregation pheromone" is present in the faeces of larvae and adults of several species of the subfamily Triatominae (T.…”