Comportamento sexual de Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus, 1785 (Insecta, Coleoptera)

M. Wanto, MônykaLuciane Fischer, Marta

The Tenebrio molitor L., 1785 species has been studied as model for understanding of the polyandry mechanisms and spermatic competition. In this context it is fundamental the study of the movements patterns shown in the behaviors exhibited during the sexual interactions. The present work was carried out in the NEC/PUCPR, during May 2003 toMarch 2004. We made six experiments using different combinations of male and female reproductive status, always with thirty replicas. In the 180 interactions, totalizing 40 hours of observation, we registered 5210acts grouped in 43 movements patterns, which had characterized 12 behaviors. In the present study, were recorded differences between males and females behaviors agree with reproductive status. So, the behaviors shown during sexual interactions can be used as subsidies to understanding of the evolutional mechanisms as polyandry, spermatic competition and multiple mating.