In order to clarify the role of 2,6-dichlorophenol (2,6-DCP) in the courtship of Amblyomma cajennense, sexually mature males that had previously fed on rabbits were tested in bioassays. The males were released onto dummies treated with whole female extract or synthetic 2,6-DCP at a concentration of two female equivalents, or with hexane (control), and their responses were observed. In the prese...

A novel and easy crystal mounting technique was developed for the sulphur SAD method using chromium Kα radiation (2.29Å). Using this technique, the cryo-buffer and cryoloop around the protein crystal can be removed before data collection to eliminate their X-ray absorption. The superiority and the reproducibility of the datasets with our mounting technique were demonstrated using tetragonal hen...

Male sexual behavior depends on gonadal androgens in species of all major vertebrate lineages, including reptiles. However, male sexual behavior includes distinct appetitive and consummatory phases, typically denoted as courtship and mounting, with potentially different hormonal control. Different proximate controls of courtship versus mounting could enable disconnected evolutionary losses and ...