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Cuticular hydrocarbons as a basis for chemosensory self‐referencing in crickets: a potentially universal mechanism facilitating polyandry in insects
Author(s) -
Weddle Carie B.,
Steiger Sandra,
Hamaker Christopher G.,
Ower Geoffrey D.,
Mitchell Christopher,
Sakaluk Scott K.,
Hunt John
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/ele.12046
Subject(s) - mating , biology , chemical communication , zoology , mechanism (biology) , ecology , mate choice , insect , evolutionary biology , pheromone , communication , psychology , philosophy , epistemology
Females of many species obtain benefits by mating polyandrously, and often prefer novel males over previous mates. However, how do females recognise previous mates, particularly in the face of cognitive constraints? Female crickets appear to have evolved a simple but effective solution: females imbue males with their own cuticular hydrocarbons ( CHC s) at mating and utilise chemosensory self‐referencing to recognise recent mates. Female CHC profiles exhibited significant additive genetic variation, demonstrating that genetically unique chemical cues are available to support chemosensory self‐referencing. CHC profiles of males became more similar to those of females after mating, indicating physical transfer of CHC s between individuals during copulation. Experimental perfuming of males with female CHC s resulted in a female aversion to males bearing chemical cues similar to their own. Chemosensory self‐referencing, therefore, could be a widespread mechanism by which females increase the diversity of their mating partners.