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First published online July 14, 2008
Journal of Experimental Biology 211, 2486-2491 (2008)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2008
doi: 10.1242/jeb.013177
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The role of the antennae during courtship behaviour in the parasitic wasp Trichopria drosophilae

Roberto Romani1,*, Marzia Cristiana Rosi3, Nunzio Isidoro2 and Ferdinando Bin1

1 Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali, University of Perugia – Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
2 Departimento di Scienze Ambientali e delle Produzioni Vegetali, Politechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
3 Departimento di Biotecnologie Agrarie, University of Firenze, P. le delle Cascine 18, 50144 Florence, Italy

* Author for correspondence (e-mail: rromani{at}unipg.it)

Accepted 19 May 2008

We have studied the courtship behaviour of Trichopria drosophilae Perkins (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae), a pupal parasitoid of the common fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae), to understand the role of the antennae. Virgin pairs of the parasitoid perform an intense and stereotyped antennal courtship, which leads to copulation. During antennation, the two male fourth antennomeres come into contact with the two apical female antennomeres, and thus the secretion produced by the sex pheromone gland is spread onto the female receptors. By preventing the transfer of the courtship pheromone from male to female antennae, mating was inhibited. Moreover, selective ablation of single antennae demonstrated that the courtship pheromone acts on contact. When antennae of both sexes were partially removed (ablation at the same side, i.e. right or left) courtship was successful and copulation occurred. In contrast, in the case of antennal ablation at opposite sides, courtship failed despite the short distance between secretion and receptors. These results confirm the hypothesis that T. drosophilae male antennal glands are the release site of a contact courtship pheromone, playing a key role in mating behaviour. The occurrence of male antennal glands in Hymenoptera and other insect orders is discussed.

Key words: insect, mating behaviour, parasitoids, Drosophila melanogaster, antennal glands, sex pheromone


Related articles in JEB:

ANTENNAE ARE KEY FOR COURTING FRUITFLIES
Kathryn Phillips
JEB 2008 211: ii. [Full Text]  



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
K. Phillips
ANTENNAE ARE KEY FOR COURTING FRUITFLIES
J. Exp. Biol., August 1, 2008; 211(15): ii - ii.
[Full Text] [PDF]


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