| | 1 | Author
| Claudia Schütz, K. Onrad Dettner | Requires cookie* | | | Title
| Cantharidin-Secretion by Elytral Notches of Male Anthicid Species (Coleoptera: Anthicidae)  | | | | Abstract
| Within the beetle family Anthicidae or ant-like flower beetles the canthariphilous species N o to x u s m onoceros shows a pair o f notch-like structures on the apices o f male elytra. A reser voir-like swelling at the apex o f each elytron contains a bilobed gland. Its glandular tubules run into the sclerotized notch. Gaschromatographic investigations o f elytral notches and the testes o f cantharidin-fed and unfed male N o to x u s m onoceros revealed huge quantities o f can tharidin stored in these organs in fed specimens. Other body parts, such as legs, elytral parts or flight muscles, had low cantharidin-titres, both in cantharidin-fed and unfed beetles. The can-tharidin-titres o f unfed individuals were very low compared with cantharidin-fed specimens, although cantharidin was present, mostly in notches. During sexual display the females bite several times into these notches and easily copulate, if the males had access to offered canthari din crystals. Thus, the elytral notches o f male N o to x u s m onoceros seem to function as "test-organs" for females which are able to select males with high cantharidin loads prior to copula tion. Even small quantities o f cantharidin stored in notches o f field caught specimens seem o f advantage for males in competing for a female partner. | | | |
Reference
| Z. Naturforsch. 47c, 290—2 (1992); received September 13 1991/January 12 1992 | | | |
Published
| 1992 | | | |
Keywords
| Cantharidin, Elytral N otches, Sexual Selection, Anthicidae, Coleoptera | | | |
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| default:Reihe_C/47/ZNC-1992-47c-0290.pdf | | | | Identifier
| ZNC-1992-47c-0290 | | | | Volume
| 47 | |
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