Epicuticular compounds and sexual recognition in the ball-roller scarab, Canthon cyanellus cyanellus

We analyzed the role of cuticular compounds in sexual recognition of the carrion ball-roller scarab, Canthon cyanellus cyanellus (LeConte) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Males rolled food balls with freeze-killed females on them as though the females were alive. Acceptance of female cadavers was low when they were washed with solvents and increased significantly when the solvent extract was reapplied to the cadavers. Acceptance of female cadavers by males was significantly higher than that of male cadavers by females. Male cadavers washed with solvent and impregnated with female cuticular compounds were accepted by males as though they were frozen or living females. Similarly, extracted female cadavers impregnated with male cuticular compounds were accepted by females. These results suggest that C. c. cyanellus males recognize females by their cuticular compounds, whereas females use a combination of cuticular compounds and other unknown cues to recognize males.