COMPORTAMIENTO SEXUAL, DESCRIPCIÓN MORFOLÓGICA DE LA GLÁNDULA METATORÁCICA E IDENTIFICACIÓN DE LOS SÉNSULOS ANTENALES DE Leptoglossus zonatus DALLAS (HETEROPTERA: COREIDAE)

Abstract

Leptoglossus zonatus is a polyphagous insect that causes economic losses in different crops as corn, sorghum, fruit and some industrial crops. In this work were determined the age and time of increased sexual activity by placing pairs of adults of two days old. The observations were made every two hours over a period of 24 continuous hours every third day for a total period of 60 days. It also described the sexual behavior in laboratory conditions through the construction of an ethogram, using 3 groups of insects forming 30 pairs (2 males, 1 female, 2 females, 1 male and 2 females, 2 males). Also was characterized morphologically the gland metathoracic (MTG) in both sexes, which is in metathoracic coxal pit and is formed by a reservoir well differentiated, two tubes and two accessory glands. We studied the antennal sensilla of both sexes, using scanning electron microscopy. We identified six types of sensory organs: trichodea, basiconica, coeloconica, campaniform, placodea and microtrichia. In both sexes were found no sex difference in these sensilla. Measurements were made of the antenna and body size of male and female (n = 10). The antenna length of males was 12.35 ± 0.20 mm and 12.33 ± 0.26 mm females, width of the antenna of males was 0.23 ± 0.01mm and 0.23 ± 0.011mm females, width the flagellum of males was 0.31 ± 0.01mm and 0.33 ± 0.01mm females, the length of the flagellum in males was 9.83 ± 0.16 mm and 10.07 ± 0.16 mm females and length from the body in males was 15.51 ± 0.27mm and for females was 16.88 ± 0.44 mm (mean ± SEM). This last measurement was different, being the largest female than male. The average sexual maturity was 25 ± 8.20 days (mean ± SD). Two peaks of activity were recorded, in the photophase was at 14:00 h and the scotophase was at 22:00 h. The established patterns of behavior were: grooming, movement of the abdomen, moving antennae, touch of antennae by both sexes and finally the copulation. In the description of the morphological metathoracic gland were not found sexual dimorphism in this insect.