Response of Males of Limonius californicus (Mann.) (Coleoptera: Elateridae) to a Sex Attractant Separable by Paper Chromatography

Abstract

In the course of recent field studies in southern Alberta on the behaviour of adults of the sugar-beet wireworm, Limonius californicus (Mann.), it has been observed that the males spend much of their time after emergence resting on small clods of earth with their heads pointed upward into the breeze and with their antennae waving as though testing for odours. When they appeared to scent a female they moved into the breeze, crawling or flying, depending on the velocity of the wind. As they neared the female they became increasingly agitated, but when in close proximity to her they seemed confused and often passed within an inchof her. Eventually one of them located her and mating occurred almost immediately. The remaining males finally dispersed after crawling repeatedly around and over the copulating pair. These observations suggested that the females, soon aftcr emerging, release a sex attractant.