B. discoidalis wing flapping

[Snipes]

I could not find a thread when i searched but i wonder if it has been asked before. Sometimes i see some of my discoids flapping their wings up and down. I kind of reminds me of scorp juddering. I am guessing it is some sort of mating display?

 

[bugmankeith]

My b. giganteus sometimes open their wings before cleaning them with their back legs.

Also, If there wings are closed, but in an up position, and the thorax is curved down, they are females letting off pheremones to mate. Their abdomen will slowly pulse to while they do this.


I'll see if I can find a picture of what I mean.

 

[bugmankeith]

Yup, it has to do with the mating ritual, you'll find this article helpful.

http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Entomology/courses/en507/papers_2001/randall.htm

This pic shows similar behavior.

 

[Snipes]

thank you bugmankeith! I can't believe that i could not find a thread on this, but now there is

 

[bugmankeith]

Glad to help, my cockroaches also helped because they did the exact thing.