Demonstration of sex pheromones in the predaceous diving beetle Rhantus suturalis (MacLeay 1825) (Dytiscidae) |
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Authors: | Christine Herbst Beate Baier Till Tolasch Johannes L M Steidle |
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Institution: | (1) Animal Ecology 220c, Institute of Zoology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany;(2) Present address: Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of W?rzburg, W?rzburg, Germany;(3) Present address: Department of Water Research, Institute of Hygiene and Environment, Hamburg, Germany; |
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Abstract: | Sex pheromones are used by a wide variety of species in terrestrial ecosystems. Much less is known about these pheromones
in aquatic systems e.g., for diving beetles. To test the use of pheromones and visual signals for mate finding by the diving
beetle Rhantus suturalis (MacLeay 1825), behavioral experiments were performed using three different types of vessels containing conspecific. In experiments
with non-permeable glass flasks, which did not allow the diffusion of chemical substances, males and females did not stimulate
any reaction by conspecific of either sex. In experiments with opaque but water permeable vessels, and in experiments with
vessels made of finely woven steel, which allowed the perception of chemical as well as optical cues, male diving beetles
were significantly attracted to females. Females were attracted to other females only in the last experiment, when simultaneously
perceiving chemical and optical cues. These results indicate that R. suturalis females release sex pheromones to attract mating partners, which is the first experimental demonstration of pheromones in
the Dytiscidae. |
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