Development of sexual and protective behavior of female crickets Gryllus argentinus Sauss. at the prereproductive and reproductive periods of imaginal ontogenesis

Data are presented about the development of reproductive and defense behavior of noncopulated female crickets Gryllus argentinus Sauss. in the beginning of the imaginal ontogeny. The character of interaction of females with “virtual” males (the “supporting ball” method-“trackball”) was studied. The forms of female motor reactions to models of intraspecies male sound signals-the calling and aggressive songs-are described and analyzed. The character of the development of female acoustic behavior is described as judged by change in the forms of motor reactions in the course of the imaginal ontogeny. It is shown that immediately after the imaginal molt the reproductive behavior is not formed yet but it matures gradually within a few days. At the early stages of the imaginal ontogeny passive defense behavior is found to be most clearly expressed.