THE MATING BEHAVIOR OF EURYCOTIS 
FLORID AN A (WALKER) ( BLATTARIA, 
BLATTOIDEA, BLATTIDAE, POLYZOSTERIINAE) 1 
By Robert H. Barth, Jr. 2 
Department of Zoology 
The University of Texas at Austin 
This communication is the fifth in a series of largely descriptive 
papers dealing with the mating behavior of cockroaches (see Barth, 
1961; 1964; 1968a & b; Roth and Barth, 1967). The aim of this 
series is twofold : first to provide background information for experi- 
mental studies, and second to provide the detailed comparative infor- 
mation 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 mating behavior of the Florida 
Woodroach, Eurycotis floridana (Walker) forms the subject of this 
communication. 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
Stock cultures of E. floridana 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 in specially designed observa- 
tion 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 DISCUSSION 
Eurycotis floridana is a rather large (3 to 4 cm. in length), rela- 
tively robust cockroach of deep reddish brown coloration, found in 
Florida and other southeastern states, generally in woodlands under 
logs and debris. The sexes are similar in appearance except for the 
external genitalia. Both sexes are wingless with reduced tegmina 
extending no farther than the posterior border of the mesothoracic 
segment. E. floridana along with other members of this genus emits 
when alarmed an odoriferous secretion from a sternal scent gland 
1 No. 5 in a series of papers entitled “The Mating Behavior of Cockroaches”. 
2 Much of this work was carried out at the Biological Laboratories, 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 June 24, 1968 
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