Abstract:
Within the genus Trox the structure of the stridulation organs does not vary significantly among species. I analysed distress signals in 5 species of the genus Trox F. (T. sabulosus, T. cadaverinus, T. scaber, T. eversmannii and T. puncticollis). Each beetle was held with pincers a few seconds and then released, simulating an attempted predation by a bird. Following this disturbance, the beetle would spontaneously stridulate for several minutes. I was able to recognise various differences with regards to the length of chirps and syllables of these distress signals. These differences appear to be species specific.