Article
Concaveation and Maintenance of Maternal Behavior in a Burrower Bug (Sehirus cinctus): A Comparative Perspective
Journal of Comparative Psychology
(1996)
Abstract
This study investigates 2 patterns of maternal behavior typical of mammals, using a heterop- teran insect as the study animal. Sehirus cinctus, a burrower bug (Heteroptera: Cydnidae), exhibits relatively well-developed maternal behavior that includes guarding eggs and provi- sioning offspring. Mothers remained maternally responsive to stimulus eggs for 24-48 hr following removal of their own eggs, but the response grew weaker with longer separation times. A proportion of nulliparous females also exhibited maternal responsiveness when presented with stimulus eggs. Males, however, never responded parentally to eggs. The results of this study highlight similarities in general female responsiveness to stimulus young and differences in male responsiveness to stimulus young among certain invertebrates and vertebrates.
Keywords
- concaveation,
- insect parental care,
- maternal behavior,
- cydnidae,
- sehirus cinctus
Disciplines
Publication Date
1996
Citation Information
Scott Kight. "Concaveation and Maintenance of Maternal Behavior in a Burrower Bug (Sehirus cinctus): A Comparative Perspective" Journal of Comparative Psychology Vol. 110 Iss. 1 (1996) p. 69 - 76 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/scott-kight/25/