A pair of basi-abdominal sex pheromone glands in the male of some burrower bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae)
Pluot-Sigwalt Dominique
Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 48(2): 511-522, 2008
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Abstract: Paired pleural basi-abdominal glands (PBA glands) were found in males of some
burrower bugs (Pentatomoidea: Cydnidae). So far, they seem to be restricted to
the subfamily Cydninae, tribes Cydnini (except Cydnus aterri- mus (Forster,
1771) and Geotomini, and are absent in examined representatives of the
subfamilies Amaurocorinae, Cephalocteinae, and Sehirinae. PBA glands are
laterally and symmetrically situated underneath the mediotergite 3. They are
simple sac-like formations covered by several hundreds of secretory units. Each
gland opens to the exterior in the posterior part of the membranous pleural area
of the fused first and second mediotergites, just in front of the connective
line linking laterotergite and sternite 3. The slit-shaped minute ostioles are
hidden by the wing in the resting insect and are located adjacent to the
stridulatory structures. The secretory activity of the PBA glands is clearly
correlated with sexual activity and mating period; therefore the glands might be
the source of an attractant sex pheromone for the female. PBA glands are
possibly functionally associated with stridulation-vibration during courtship
and mating. Unlike the Sehirinae (lacking the paired PBA glands), the Cydninae
exhibit an unusual copulatory position, the male being positioned underneath the
female, similar to the condition found in the Aradidae and Ceratocombidae.
Key words: Heteroptera, Cydnidae, Cydninae, Cydnini, Geotomini, pleural basi- abdominal glands, sex pheromones, mating, copulatory position, stridulatory structures