THE MATING BEHAVIOR OF 
GROMPHADORHINA PORTENTOSA (SCHAUM) 
(BLATTARIA, BLABEROIDEA, BLABERIDAE, 
OXYHALOINAE ) : AN ANOMALOUS PATTERN 
FOR A COCKROACH 1 
By Robert H. Barth, Jr. 2 
Department of Zoology 
The University of Texas at Austin 
This communication is the fourth in a series of largely descriptive 
papers dealing with the mating behavior of cockroaches, (see Barth, 
1961; Barth, 1964; Roth and Barth, 1967; and Barth, ms in prep- 
aration). The aim of this series is twofold: first to provide back- 
ground information for experimental studies, and second to provide 
the detailed comparative information necessary for a study of the 
evolution of mating behavior within the Blattaria. A more general 
introduction to the series may be found in Barth (1964). The 
anomalous mating behavior of the Madagascar cockroach, Grompha- 
dorhina portentosa, (Schaum) forms the subject of this communi- 
cation. 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
Stock cultures of G. portentosa were maintained as described by 
Barth (1964) for Byrsotria fumigata. The observations on mating 
behavior were made in the evening (the normal active period for 
these animals) under red illumination is specially designed obser- 
vation chambers (for details, see Barth, 1964). The ethological 
terms employed in the description of the behavior patterns have been 
previously defined by Barth (1964). 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS 
Gromphadorhina portentosa is a large, heavy-bodied wingless spe- 
cies found under debris on forest floors in Madagascar (see Plate 6 
'No. 4 in a series of papers entitled “The Mating Behavior of Cock- 
roaches”. 
"Much of this work was carried out at the Biological Laboratiories, Har- 
vard University. Financial support from National Science Foundation 
Predoctoral Fellowships and N.S.F. Grant G 19962 is gratefully acknowl- 
edged. 
Manuscript received by the editor 5 April, 1968 
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