Abstract
Levels of sex pheromone and their relationships to “calling behavior” and mating were compared between female Indian meal moths, Plodia intcrpunctella (Hubner), mated with males that were reared in continuous light (LL males) or in 12-hour light and dark cycles (LD males) and virgin females. Bioassays against unmated males showed different levels of sex pheromone in the extracts of abdominal tips from virgin females or females mated with LD or LL males. The level of pheromone in extracts of virgin females was about 100 times greater than the level in females mated with LD males, but only about 3 times greater than the level in females mated with LL males. When the calling activity of females was observed during a 48-hour period, more virgin females and females mated with LL males called than females mated with LD males. Copulation or the transfer of a spermatophore therefore did not affect the levels of sex pheromone in the abdominal tips of the females. The results indicate that stored sperm may provide the stimulus necessary to stop calling in females.
Published Version
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