抄録
Further experimental analyses of the mating behavior of Zizeeria maha argia were made to determine whether or not olfactory cues are involved in sexual discrimination by males. Field experiments with a live individual of both sexes, artificially deprived of fluttering, showed that males were able to distinguish females from males by olfactory cues. The female odor excited males and was of great importance in initiating sequences of male mating behavior. Male odor had a repellent effect on approaching males. In particular, the female odor provoked the courting posture response from males. These odor signals of both sexes were effective only at short range. These results coupled with those of the previous reports indicate that the signals meaning "I am a proper mate to males" were (1) to take a resting posture with the wing undersurface presented, and (2) to have no repellent effect on an approaching male. The possible biological functions of flutter response are discussed in connection with the odor signal of males.
