Neotropical harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones) use sexually dimorphic glands to spread chemicals in the environment.
Sexually dimorphic glands have convergently appeared in animals and are often responsible for the production of pheromones. In the suborder Laniatores of the order Opiliones (Arachnida), glands of such type are widespread, but there is not a single paper on how they are used. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy and a behavioral approach, we describe glandular openings and how these glands are used, in the harvestmen Gryne perlata and Gryne coccinelloides (Cosmetidae). Males of these two species have glandular openings on the metatarsi of legs I and on the metatarsi IV. Males were shown rubbing the glands of the metatarsi I against their other legs, whereas glands on the metatarsi IV are gently touched on the substrate or rubbed either against other legs, or against the substrate. Not all behaviors were seen in both species.
Laboratório de Ecologia Sensorial e Comportamento de Artrópodes (LESCA), Escola de Artes Ciências e Humanidades, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Arlindo Béttio, 1000 Ermelino Matarazzo 03828-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Nathália da Silva
Nda S
Fernandes
Laboratório de Ecologia Sensorial e Comportamento de Artrópodes (LESCA), Escola de Artes Ciências e Humanidades, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Arlindo Béttio, 1000 Ermelino Matarazzo 03828-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: willemart@usp.br.
Rodrigo Hirata
RH
Willemart
D000819:Animal Communication; D000818:Animals; D001097:Arachnida / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D004777:Environment; D005121:Extremities / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010675:Pheromones / Q000502:physiology*; D012543:Scent Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*
D010675:Pheromones
Chemical communication; Communication chimique; Cosmetidae; Dimorphisme sexuel; Laniatores; Pheromones; Phéromones; Sexual dimorphism; Sexual selection; Sélection sexuelle