Abstract
In the course of behavioral studies on the courtship of Bombyx mori, tactile stimuli were found to play an important role in the final step of the mating process both in the male and female. The copulation attempt of the male was associated with the contact with the scales adhering to the female body. Especially, the scales which cover the last three segments of the abdomen of the female were important for the male to generate the copulation attempt. The male could most efficiently respond to these tactile signals when using their pro-thoracic legs as a tactile organ. On the other hand, both the contraction of the alluring gland and the lifting of the wings associated with the mating behavior of the female were induced by the tactile stimulus of the wings or abdomen of the male. Based on these results, the behavioral chain of courtship in B. mori has been proposed.
