The objective of this study was to describe the sexual characteristics of domestic queens kept under natural equatorial photoperiod conditions without mating. Estrous signs were detected in 25 pubertal queens by manual stimulation and by exposure to a tomcat twice daily for 6 months (January to June). The signs observed were tail deflection, spinal flexion, rubbing or rolling, vaginal discharge, vocalization, treading of the hind legs, body or tail tremor and rigidity, blow or scratches, and discomfort on manipulation. The queen was considered in estrous when neck grip, tail deflection and attempted penile intromission by the male were allowed after mounting. From 187 cycles, there were (mean +/- S.E.M.) 7.5 +/- 0.7 cycles detected per queen; the duration of the cycle, estrus and non-acceptance were 18.1 +/- 0.9, 7.9 +/- 0.5, and 10.3 +/- 0.9 d, respectively. Queens always maintained some signs of sexual behaviour; they remained ambivalent for no more than 24 h at a time. It was noted that 85.3% of the observations of body or tail tremor and rigidity were made during estrus; therefore, these signs were considered characteristic of sexual receptivity. There was no evidence of prolonged anestrus or of a circannual pattern to estrus cyclicity. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
