Pheromones in Blattella germanica and Blaberus craniifer (Blaberoidea): Glandular source, morphology and analyses of pheromonally released behaviours.

Females of Blattella germanica and Blaberus craniifer produce a volatile sex pheromone attractive at a distance for conspecific males. During the emission of the pheromone, females of B. craniifer adopt a typical calling posture; we never observe such a stance in B. germanica females. For both species, the glandular structures responsible for pheromonal production are located on the female pygidium. In B. germanica, the thickness of the glandular epithelium is clearly correlated with the attractiveness of females, being maximum for 13 day old females. The functions of the pygidial glands are discussed in both species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]