PRETE, F.R.*; HURD, L.E.; JONES, T.; PORTMAN, R.; SINGH, T.B.; CO, J.E.: Scent of a Woman: The First Identification and Assay of a Mantid Pheromone

Although insect pheromones are well studied, little is known about their roles in the life of predators such as praying mantids. We examined the mantis Sphodromantis lineola, to determine (1) if females produce a pheromone-like chemical, (2) if the chemical has an effect on male behavior, and (3) if males possess antenna sensilla capable of sensing a pheromone. Female headspace samples collected via solid phase microextraction and analyzed with gas chromatography revealed a 1:3 ratio of tetradecanal to pentadecanal (the putative pheromone). In Y-maze tests, males always chose the maze arm with the synthesized pheromone, spending an average of 99% their time there. In an open-field test, the synthesized pheromone elicited vigorous mating-related behaviors directed toward other males and dummies. These behaviors included flying leaps onto males, abdominal twisting and lateral flexion (indicative of attempts to intromit), and phallomere spreading. SEM photos of male antennae revealed that among the estimated 30,000 hair- and peg-like sensilla were several well-recognized classes of chemoreceptors: large (100-130 um long) uniporous trichoid sensilla with unelaborated apical pores; small (<100 um long) multiporous trichoid sensilla; grooved, multiporous basiconic sensilla; and grooved, basiconic sensilla with apical pores. Of these, the multiporous trichoid and basiconic sensilla are the most likely to be olfactory receptors responsive to airborne female produced pheromones.