title: Refuge size preference in the field cricket Gryllus bimaculatus.
abstract: Size preference for artificial refuges was examined in the adult field cricket Gryllus bimaculatus under laboratory conditions. Blinded crickets were placed individually in a container consisting of a circular arena and six different-sized artificial refuges (triangular tent-like shelters). The crickets were allowed to walk freely inside the container for a constant period. Size preference was evaluated by determining cumulative stay period in each shelter. When the depth of the shelters varied from 60 to 160 mm at 20-mm intervals, and the width was fixed at 30 mm, both males and females tended to remain in relatively longer shelters (≥ 140 mm). Females, in particular, exhibited a distinct preference for the longest shelter (160 mm). The width of the shelters was then varied from 20 to 40 mm at 4-mm intervals, and the depth was fixed at 100 mm. Although males did not show selectivity to specific shelters, females tended to select a shelter with a particular width (32 mm). These results suggest that adults of G. bimaculatus have size preferences for refuges under blinded conditions. However, the preferences may involve sexual differences as well.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Graduate School of Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan. jokata@nagasaki-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Jiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Shogo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mizuta
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Toh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D005260:Female; D006135:Gryllidae / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D055698:Touch Perception