1968] 
Barth — Behavior of Eurycotis 
283 
study of the mating behavior of additional members of the Poly- 
zosteriinae would be highly desirable, for such a study might reveal 
intermediate stages in the evolution of the aberrant mating behavior 
pattern found in E. floridana and thus aid in our understanding of 
this pattern. 
SUMMARY 
The mating behavior of Eurycotis floridana shows a considerable 
departure from the pattern typical of cockroaches. The female ini- 
tiates the sequence in this species by approaching the male from a 
short distance. The male sex pheromone is somewhat volatile and 
serves the function of sex recognition and attraction of members of 
the opposite sex. Contact is established by the female and this is 
followed by antennal fencing and mutual body stroking with the 
antennae. Receptive males show a curious side to side rocking 
movement termed lateral vibration. The female mounts directly at 
this point without any further display on the part of the male. Since 
the male is wingless, the dorsum of his abdomen with a tergal gland 
on the first segment is freely accessible to the female. The mounting 
and feeding activities of the female are unusually prolonged in this 
species. Tactile stimulation of the abdominal dorsum releases the 
copulatory thrusts of the male. Genital connection is followed by 
the assumption of the opposed copulatory position. 
References 
Barth, Robert H. Jr. 
1961. Comparative and Experimental Studies on Mating Behavior in 
Cockroaches. Ph.D. Thesis, Harvard University, Cambridge, 
Massachusetts, 274 pages. 
1964. The mating behavior of Byrsotria fumigata (Guerin) (Blattidae, 
Blaberinae). Behaviour 23: 1-30. 
1968a. The mating behavior of Periplaneta americana (Linnaeus) and 
Blatta orientalis Linnaeus (Blattaria, Blattoidea, Blattidae, 
Blattinae) with notes on the mating behavior of three additional 
species of Periplaneta and on the interspecific effectiveness of 
the female sex pheromones of cockroaches, ms. submitted to 
Behaviour. 
1968b. The mating behavior of Gromphadorhina portentosa (Schaum) 
(Blattaria, Blaberoidea, Blaberidae, Oxyhaloinae) : an anoma- 
lous pattern for a cockroach. Psyche 75: 124-131. 
1968c. The comparative physiology of reproductive processes in cock- 
roaches. Part I. Mating behavior and its endocrine control. 
Advances in Reproductive Physiology 3 : 167-207. 
Dated, George P. & L. M. Roth 
1967. Occurrence of gluconic acid and 2-hexenal in the defensive 
secretions of three species of Eurycotis (Blattaria: Blattidae: 
Polyzosteriinae). Ann. Ent. Soc. Am. 60: 1025-1030. 
