Pheromone-communication
Guides
Stagmomantis limbata
bordered mantis, Arizona mantis, bosque mantis, New Mexico praying mantis
Stagmomantis limbata is one of the largest native mantids in North America, reaching approximately 3 inches in length. It exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism: females are flightless, robust, and typically plain green or gray with a dark spot on the tegmina, while males are slender, long-winged, and capable of flight. The species is notable for female-emitted sex pheromones that attract males, with pheromone production linked to female nutritional status and receptivity. Sexual cannibalism occurs, particularly when females are food-limited.
Supella longipalpa
brown-banded cockroach, brownbanded cockroach, TV roach
Supella longipalpa, commonly known as the brown-banded cockroach, is a small synanthropic pest of presumed African origin that has become established in human-built structures worldwide. It is notable for pronounced sexual dimorphism: males are slender with long, functional wings and are capable of flight, while females are broader with short, non-functional wings. The species completes its entire life cycle indoors and shows distinct behavioral preferences for warmer, drier locations compared to other domestic cockroaches, often inhabiting furniture, appliances, and upper wall areas.
Trigonorhinus
fungus weevils
Trigonorhinus is a genus of fungus weevils in the beetle family Anthribidae, comprising approximately 15-16 described species. The genus includes wood-boring species that develop in plant tissues, with at least one species documented as a pest of Caragana liouana in arid regions of China. A notable species, Trigonorhinus sp., has been demonstrated to rely on gut bacterial symbionts for production of male aggregation pheromones essential for mate attraction.
Xenorhipis brendeli
Xenorhipis brendeli is a metallic wood-boring beetle (family Buprestidae) notable for extreme sexual dimorphism in antennae. Males possess highly modified, flabellate (comb-like) antennae with expanded distal segments covered in olfactory sensillae, while females retain the unmodified serrate antennae typical of the family. This species is the only member of its tribe occurring in eastern North America, ranging west to Minnesota and eastern Texas. Adults are short-lived, with males living no longer than 48 hours, and exhibit a narrow daily activity window focused on mate location via female-released pheromones.
Xylocopa sonorina
Valley Carpenter Bee, Hawaiian Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa sonorina is one of the largest bees in California and Hawaii, reaching approximately 25 mm in length. The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism: females are entirely black, while males are golden-brown with distinctive green eyes. Native to the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico, it has been introduced to the Hawaiian Islands (since before 1874), French Polynesia, the Samoan Islands, and other Pacific archipelagoes through human-mediated transport of nesting wood. DNA analysis confirmed in 2020 that X. varipuncta is a synonym of X. sonorina. The species is a significant pollinator, including commercial pollination of passion fruit in Hawaii, though its wood-nesting behavior can cause structural damage.