Are pheromones the same for all species?

[sally]

Total newbie question here. I am still trying to find the answer in my books. Are the chemicals the same for all mantids, or different for each individual mantis or species? Do all mantids have exact same receptors or is that individualized ? Do other mantid males know or care when different species females are calling ?

 

[hibiscusmile]

good question!

 

[Mime454]

They're almost certainly all different. Otherwise males and females would be wasting a lot of time! I'd bet that phermonal changes are one of the fastest drivers of speciation. Very quick to isolate a population this way.

Just imagine in a country like Malaysia where there are a ton of species. A flying male would almost always find the wrong species to mate with!

 

[AxolotlsAreCoolToo]

Maybe each genus has its own scent but it could be as specific a each different species has its own. What i noticed is different females have different style of calling. And some you cant even tell they are calling

 

[sally]

They're almost certainly all different. Otherwise males and females would be wasting a lot of time! I'd bet that phermonal changes are one of the fastest drivers of speciation. Very quick to isolate a population this way.

Just imagine in a country like Malaysia where there are a ton of species. A flying male would almost always find the wrong species to mate with!

Yes, that makes sense, they would have to be different I wonder how the chemicals get different with each species. I wondered if maybe it was the species receptors that were different ? So probably receptors the same , chemicals different? ugh need coffee..

 

[sally]

Yes in Keeping The Praying Mantis by McMonigle (thanks Orin) on page 83, "Males are attracted by species-specific pheromones the females broadcast."