Chemical communication and behavioural interaction between sexually mature male and female shore crabs (Carcinus maenas)

A new behavioural bioassay system has been used to examine chemical communication in the crab Carcinus maenas (Crustacea: Brachyura) and has demonstrated the sexually and temporally specific nature of a putative sex pheromone. Mature premoult and postmoult females evoked sexual behavioural responses from receptive male crabs. No response was obtained when intermoult female and premoult and postmoult male crabs were tested. Postmoult females continued to be chemically attractive to male crabs with a similar intensity to that of late premoult females for greater than or equal to 8 d following moulting, and then with a reduced intensity for greater than or equal to 14 d. Male C. maenas successfully entered copula with females greater than or equal to 13 d after the female moult.