Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-8kt4b Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-16T11:18:29.065Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

COURTSHIP BEHAVIOR OF THE MIGRATORY GRASSHOPPER, MELANOPLUS SANGUINIPES (ORTHOPTERA: ACRIDIDAE)1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

R. Pickford  and
C. Gillott
R. Pickford
Affiliation:
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
C. Gillott
Affiliation:
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Studies on the courtship behavior of Melanoplus sanguinipes (Fabr.) clearly indicated that the male played the dominant role. The conspicuous waving of antennae and vibrating of hind femora, which form an integral part of the male’s behavioral pattern, did not appear essential for normal coupling. Visual stimuli proved to be of primary importance for ’homing in’ on the female prior to the mounting leap. Blinding the male caused all courtship activities to cease. Males clearly were able to select mature females from immature ones and virgin from mated females. Although further experimental evidence is required for corroboration, it is suggested that this selectivity may have been accomplished by some form of chemical stimulus emitted by the females.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 104 , Issue 5 , May 1972 , pp. 715 - 722
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1972

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Cornwell, P. B. 1955. The functions of the ocelli of Calliphora (Diptera) and Locusta (Orthoptera). J. exp. Biol. 32: 217–237.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Criddle, N. 1933. Studies in the biology of North American Acrididae. Development and habits. Proc. World's Grain Exhib. and Conf., p. 474–494.Google Scholar
Gregory, G. E. 1965. On the intiation of spermatophore formation in the African migratory locust, Locusta migratoria migratorioides. J. exp. Biol. 42: 423–435.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haskell, P.T. 1958. Stridulation and associated behavior in certain Orthoptera. 2. Stridulation of females and their behavior with males. Anim. Behav. 6: 27–42.Google Scholar
Jacobs, W. 1953. Verhaltensbiologische Studien an Feldheuschrecken. Z. Tierpsychol. Beiheft 1: 1–228.Google Scholar
Jacobson, M. 1965. Insect sex attractants. Interscience Publishers, New YOrk. 154 p.Google Scholar
Kyl, G. 1938. A Study of copulation and the formation of spermatophores in Melanoplus differentialis. Proc. Iowa Acad. Sci. 45: 299–308.Google Scholar
Loher, W. 1958. An Olfactory respose of immature adults of the desert locust. Nature 181: 1280.Google Scholar
Loher, W. 1959. Contributions to the study of the sexual behavior of Schistocerca gregaria Forskal (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Proc. R. ent. Soc. Lond. 34: 49–56.Google Scholar
Loher, W. 1960. The chemical acceleration of the maturation process and its hormonal control in the male of the desert locust. Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. 153: 380–397.Google Scholar
Loher, W. and Chandrashekaran, M. K.. 1970. Acoustical and sexual behavior in the grasshopper Chimarocephala Pacifica Pacifica (Oedipodinae). Ent. exp. appl. 13: 71–84.Google Scholar
Otte, W. 1970. A comparative study of communicative behavior in grasshoppers. Misc. Publ Mus. Zool. Univ. Mich., No. 141, 168 p.Google Scholar
Perdeck, A. C. 1958. The isolating value of specific song patterns in two sibling species of grasshoppers (Chorthippus brunneus Thunb. and C. biguttulus L.). Behaviour 12: 1–75.Google Scholar
Pickford, R. 1958. Obeservations on the reproductive potential of Melanoplus bilituratus (Wlk.)(Orth.: Acrid.) reared on different food plants in the laboratory. Can. Ent. 90: 483–485.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pickford, R. and Randell, R. L.. 1969. A non-diapause strain of the migratory grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes (orth.: Acrid.). Can. Ent. 101: 894–896.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schneider, D. 1963. Function of insect olfactory sensilla. Proc. 16th int. Congr. Zool. (Washington), Vol.3, p. 84–96.Google Scholar
Slifer, E. H. 1940. The internal genitalia of female Ommexichinae and Cyrtacanthacridinae (Orthoptera: Acrididae). J. Morph. 67: 199–239.Google Scholar
Thomas, J. G. 1965. The abdomen of the female desert locust with specific reference to sense organs. Anti-Locust Bull. 42: 1–20.Google Scholar
Thomas, J. G. 1966. The sense organs on the mouth parts of the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria). J. Zool. 148: 420–448.Google Scholar
Thomas, J. G. 1970. Probable pheromone-secreting cells in the epidermis of mature males of Schistocerca gregaria (Orth.: Acrid.). Proc. R. ent. Soc. Lond. 45: 125–135.Google Scholar
Uvarov, B. P. 1966. Grasshoppers and locusts. A handbook of general acridology, Vol. 1. Cambridge Univ. Press. 481 p.Google Scholar
Varde, V. P. 1934. The protrusible vesicles in Cyrtacanthacrinae-Acridiinae (Orthoptera). J. Univ. Bombay 2: 53–57.Google Scholar