Abstract
During copulation, the male German cockroach [Blattella germanica (L.)] deposits a spermatophore in the female's genital pouch and voids stored urates from his accessory glands (uricose glands) on to the spermatophore1. About 24 h after mating, the female expels the empty spermatophore with adhering urates. Although uricose glands have been reported in the Blattaria2,3, and are proposed to act in excretion4,5, then role in reproduction is unclear. Roth2 has suggested that urates may serve to protect the spermatophore from premature consumption by the female or other insects. However, we have noted the disappearance of spermatophoresurates from cages containing mated pah's of cockroaches and have investigated the possibility that these materials have nutritional value. We observed that spermatophores and urates disappeared between 7 and 18 d after females were mated while on a dog food diet; spermatophores were consumed within 4 d by females starved for 3 d after eclosion. Furthermore, we now report that labelled uric acid assimilated by males before, and voided at, mating can be recovered in mated females and their ootheca.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Roth, L. M. & Dateo, G. P. Science 146, 782–784 (1964).
Roth, L. M. Ann. ent. Soc. Am. 60, 1203–1211 (1967).
Roth, L. M. Ann. ent. Soc. Am. 64, 127–141 (1971).
Roth, L. M. & Dateo, G. P. J. Insect Physiol. 11, 1023–1029 (1965).
Ballan-Dufrancais, C. Z. Zellforsch. 109, 336–355 (1970).
Leopold, R. A. A. Rev. Ent. 21, 199–221 (1976).
Kunkel, J. G. J. Insect Physiol. 12, 227–235 (1966).
Tanaka, A. Devi Growth Differentiation 15, 153–168 (1973).
Brooks, M. A. Proc. 10th int. Congr. Ent., Montreal 2, 311–314 (1958).
Donnellan, J. F. & Kilby, B. A. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 22, 235–252 (1967).
Henry, S. M. Trans. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 24, 676–683 (1962).
Mullins, D. E. & Cochran, D. G. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 50A, 501–510 (1975).
Thornhill, R. Am. Nat. 110, 153–163 (1976).
Friedel, T. & Gillott, C. J. Insect Physiol. 23, 145–151 (1977).
Gordon, H. T. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 77, 290–351 (1959).
Mullins, D. E. & Cochran, D. G. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 53A, 393–399 (1976).
Mullins, D. E. J. exp. Biol. 61, 541–556 (1974).
Cochran, D. G. Ent. exp. Appl. 26 (in the press) (1979).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mullins, D., Keil, C. Paternal investment of urates in cockroaches. Nature 283, 567–569 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/283567a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/283567a0
This article is cited by
-
Drosophila oocyte proteome composition covaries with female mating status
Scientific Reports (2021)
-
Neotropical Melyroidea group cockroaches reveal various degrees of (eu)sociality
The Science of Nature (2020)
-
Allocation of nuptial gifts in tree crickets changes with both male and female diet
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (2011)
-
Repeated Copulation in the Wood-feeding Cockroach Cryptocercus punctulatus Does Not Influence Number or Development of Offspring
Journal of Insect Behavior (2011)
-
Female fitness is increased by frequent mating in grasshoppers
Heredity (1995)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.