Mating behavior and contact pheromones of Batocera horsfieldi (Hope) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

摘要

The mating behavior of Batocera horsfieldi (Hope) was observed in the laboratory. The results showed that copulation of this longhorned beetle consisted of three phases: (i) encountering and pair-bonding; (ii) mating attempt and ejaculation; and (iii) post-copulatory guarding. Frozen females, with cuticular hydrocarbons stripped by hexane extraction, showed no attraction for males. Reapplying the solvent extract of frozen females to both washed dead males and females caused mating attempts by males, confirming that cuticular hydrocarbons (contact sex pheromones) played an important role in recognition of females by male B. horsfieldi.