Sexing Live Adults of the Three Species of Darkling Beetle (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Morphological Characteristics

摘要: Adult darkling beetles are being used as a bioindicator of environmental pollution after locust control operations involving the use chemical insecticides. Distinguishing between sexes beetle, Pimelia senegalensis Olivier (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), is very difficult because external morphological characteristics quite similar sexes. To help determine live P. for physiological studies, we test new and simple technique easy sexing without subjecting them to chilling, anesthesia, microscopic observation, or dissection. Almost all adult extend their heads adequately feeding on either boiled spaghetti (98.0%) rice (98.1%). If head beetle gently pressed into its pronotum with fingers, reproductive organ will protrude, that is, genitalia be visible from tip abdomen. The easily sexed based shape genitalia. This method does not result in mortality applicable other two species angulata Pterolosia squalida Solier. In senegalensis, ratio females males deviates ≈9:1. Although significant differences found several males, range values greatly overlap. time-saving can three beetles.