Study of infochemicals involved in mating behavior of papilionid butterfly adults

在日本12种蛱蝶成虫的表皮脂质化学成分中，两性二型的有6种，单型的有6种。研究发现，在交配前，雄性成年凤蝶（Papilio xuthousand papiliopolytestesa）会用前腿对交配对象进行触诊。电生理测量表明，前腿跗猴的毛状感受器对同种和异种成虫的表皮脂质提取物有味觉反应。这些结果有力地表明，成年凤蝶利用交配伴侣的表皮脂质物质作为识别配偶的化学线索。

Of the 12 papilionid butterflies inhabiting in Japan, 6 species were sexually dimorphic but 6 species were sexually monomorphic in the chemical composition of cuticular lipid of adults. Prior to copulation, male adults of Papilio xuthusand Papiliopolytesare found to show palpation behavior to mating partners using their forelegs. Electrophysiological measurements revealed that sensilla trichodea of the foreleg tarsi show gustatory responses to the cuticular lipid extracts from conspecific and heterospecific adults. These results strongly suggest that adults of papilionid butterflies use the cuticular lipid substances of mating partners for chemical cues of mate recognition.