Chemical detection of sex and condition in the crayfishOrconectes virilis

Individual crayfish (Orconectes virilis) were tested for responses to water containing conspecific individuals of several sex-status categories. Isolated males did not react to self water but did show aggressive postures while isolated, nonself male water was introduced. Males' responses to female water was different from responses to male water. Water from aggressing males elicited fewer agonistic postures and more neutral postures. Females showed little difference in response to waters from different categories of conspecifics.