Science. 1979 Aug 24;205(4408):825-7. doi: 10.1126/science.205.4408.825.
Females of the neotropical mantis Acanthops falcata adopt a special posture at dawn which is maintained for about 20 minutes. During the same period, males fly strongly, even in the absence of females. Our studies show that in this posture females are secreting a pheromone that acts as a sex attractant. All sexual activity in this species normally occurs between dawn and sunrise. It can be triggered by any dark-to-light transition, irrespective of real time. This sexual periodicity is probably an antipredator adaptation.
新热带区螳螂 Acanthops falcata 的雌性在黎明时分会摆出一种特殊姿势，这种姿势会持续大约 20 分钟。在这段时间里，即使没有雌性在附近，雄性也会强烈地飞翔。我们的研究表明，在这种姿势下，雌性会分泌一种信息素，作为性引诱剂。在这个物种中，所有的性活动通常都发生在黎明到日出之间。它可以被任何从暗到亮的转变触发，而不管实际时间如何。这种性周期性可能是一种反捕食者的适应。
