Male search behavior of the stonefly, Pteronarcella badia (Hagen) (Plecoptera: Pteronarcyidae), in relation to drumming

The mating system of many northern hemisphere stoneflies involves vibrational duetting, yet searching behavior in relation to the percussive communication has remained unreported. The communication-search system of a Colorado population of the ubiquitous western stonefly Pteronarcella badia in an ex...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of insect behavior 1993-07, Vol.6 (4), p.467-481
Main Authors: Abbott, J.C, Stewart, K.W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ACOUSTIC PROPERTIES
COMMUNICATION ANIMALE
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ANIMALS
COMPORTAMIENTO SEXUAL
COMPORTEMENT SEXUEL
COMUNICACION ENTRE ANIMALES
Freshwater
MACHO
MALE
MALES
MATING BEHAVIOR
PLECOPTERA
PROPIEDADES ACUSTICAS
PROPRIETE ACOUSTIQUE
Pteronarcella badia
Pteronarcyidae
SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR
SON (ACOUSTIQUE)
SONIDO
SOUND
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Summary:The mating system of many northern hemisphere stoneflies involves vibrational duetting, yet searching behavior in relation to the percussive communication has remained unreported. The communication-search system of a Colorado population of the ubiquitous western stonefly Pteronarcella badia in an experimental arena entails a ranging search by calling virgin or polygynous males until duet establishment with virgin females, continued intermittent duetting while the male engages in a local search and the female remains stationary, and a tactile-based find of the female, followed by immediate mounting and mating. The average 234-s find time for pairs engaging in strong, continuous duets was significantly shorter than those for nonduetting or anomalously duetting pairs. Males of strongly duetting pairs made significantly more turns toward the female during search than in anomalously duetting pairs, and their local search pattern appears to be a triangulation aided by resource-specific (female) vibrational cues. Males displayed a wide range of fitness, based on searching time, and an increased number of duets significantly reduced finding time. Potential female selection and possible extrapolation of these experimental results to natural field conditions are discussed.
ISSN:0892-7553
1572-8889
DOI:10.1007/BF01049526