Acoustic signaling is widespread in bark beetles (Scolytinae), although little is known about the physical characteristics of signals, how they are transmitted, and how they differ among behavioural contexts. Signals were studied in the male mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, 1902) during stress, male–female, and male–male interactions. Sounds are broadband with significant energy in the ultrasound (peaks between 15 and 26 kHz) and low amplitude (55 and 47 dB SPL at 2 and 4 cm, respectively), indicating that signaling functions at close range. Signal trains vary among contexts primarily in the proportions of chirp types. Chirps were categorized as being simple or interrupted, with the former having significantly lower tooth strike rates and shorter chirp durations. Stress chirps are predominantly simple with characteristics resembling other insect disturbance signals. Male–female interactions begin with the male producing predominantly interrupted chirps prior to gallery entrance, followed by simple chirps. Male–male (rivalry) chirps are predominantly simple, with evidence of antiphonal calling. Substrate-borne vibrations were detectable with a laser-doppler vibrometer at short distances (1–3 cm), suggesting that sensory organs could be tuned to either air or substrate-borne vibrations. These results have important implications for future research on the function and reception of acoustic signals in bark beetles.
Thirty-five species of the genus Houghia Coquillett (Tachinidae, Exoristinae, Goniini) are described, 34 new and one previously described, all reared from -various species of caterpillars collected in Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), northwestern Costa Rica. A matrix of character states and a key for the identification of the species are also provided. By coupling morphology, life history and molecular data, with photographic documentation, a clear and concise description of each species is provided. The following 34 new species of Houghia are described, all authored by Fleming and Wood: H. aerata sp. nov., H. aurifera sp. nov., H. biseriata sp. nov., H. bivittata sp. nov., H. blancoi sp. nov., H. brevipilosa sp. nov., H. chavarriae sp. nov., H. confinis sp. nov., H. delospilota sp. nov., H. destituta sp. nov., H. fimbriata sp. nov., H. gracilis sp. nov., H. graciloides sp. nov., H. griseifrons sp. nov., H. inflatipalpis sp. nov., H. latigena sp. nov., H. latilobus sp. nov., H. longicercus sp. nov., H. longipilosa sp. nov., H. luteiventris sp. nov., H. macilenta sp. nov., H. marini sp. nov., H. matarritai sp. nov., H. nigrofemur sp. nov., H. ochrofemur sp. nov., H. omissa sp. nov., H. pallida sp. nov., H. parmata sp. nov., H. pilosifrons sp. nov., H. romeroae sp. nov., H. sexmaculata sp. nov., H. spathulata sp. nov., H. triangularis sp. nov., and H. velutina sp. nov. The following are proposed by Wood as new synonyms of Houghia: Actinoprosopa Townsend syn. nov., Agrarialia Curran syn. nov., Anhangabahuia Townsend syn. nov., Aridalia Curran syn. nov., Bolohoughia Townsend syn. nov., Carceliocephala Townsend syn. nov., Chrysohoughia Townsend syn. nov., Eumacrohoughia Townsend syn. nov., Macrohoughia Townsend syn. nov., Orohoughia Townsend syn. nov., Pammaerus Aldrich syn. nov., Pararrhinactia Townsend syn. nov., Petrargyrops Townsend syn. nov., Sisyrohoughia Townsend syn. nov., Tapajohoughia Townsend syn. nov., and Verrugomyia Townsend syn. nov. New combinations are proposed by Wood as a result of the new synonymies, as follows: H. analis (Townsend) comb. nov., H. approximata (van der Wulp) comb. nov., H. aurata (Townsend) comb. nov., H. aurometallica (Townsend) comb. nov., H. bistrigata (van der Wulp) comb. nov., H. calcarata (van der Wulp) comb. nov., H. chlorescens (Townsend) comb. nov., H. crypta (Townsend) comb. nov., H. facialis (Townsend) comb. nov., H. impedita (van der Wulp) comb. nov., H. lateralis (Curran) comb. nov., H. leptotrichopa (Brauer & Bergenstamm) comb. nov., H. maris (Townsend) comb. nov., H. marmorata (Townsend) comb. nov., H. minor (Thompson) comb. nov., H. nuda (Townsend) comb. nov., H. orbitalis (Townsend) comb. nov., H. orbitalis (Curran) comb. nov., H. parva (Townsend) comb. nov., H. plagioides (van der Wulp) comb. nov., H. punctiger (Townsend) comb. nov., H. quadra (Wiedemann) comb. nov., H. sexualis (Curran) comb. nov., H. similis (Townsend) comb. nov., H. simillima (Thompson) comb. nov., H. sordida (van der Wulp) comb. nov.,...
Caterpillars have many natural enemies and, therefore, have evolved a diversity of antipredator strategies. Most research focuses on those strategies (crypsis, countershading, and warning coloration) targeting visually guided predators. In contrast, defensive sounds, although documented for more than a century, have been poorly studied. We report on a novel form of sound production--chirping--in caterpillars of the common European Great Peacock moth (Saturnia pyri). Chirps are broadband, with dominant peaks ranging between the sonic (3.7 kHz) and ultrasonic (55.1 kHz) and are generated by a rapid succession of mandibular "tooth strikes." Chirp trains are induced by simulated predator attacks and precede or accompany the secretion of a defensive chemical from integumental bristles, supporting our hypothesis that these sounds function in acoustic aposematism. We propose that these caterpillars generate multimodal warning signals (visual, chemical, and acoustic) to target the dominant sensory modalities of different predators, including birds, bats, and invertebrates.
We describe a new species of Cordyligaster Macquart (Diptera: Tachinidae) from Area de Conservacion Guanacaste (ACG) in northwestern Costa Rica. Cordyligaster capellii sp. n., is described and photographed. All specimens of C. capellii were reared from Syngamia florella (Stoll, 1781) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae, Spilomelinae), a leaf-rolling caterpillar collected in ACG rain forest. By coupling morphology, photographic documentation, life history and molecular data, we provide a clear and concise description of this new species. In addition the authors provide new distribution and host records for C. fuscipennis (Macquart) reared in ACG.
We describe seven new species of Spathidexia (Diptera: Tachinidae) reared from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), northwestern Costa Rica. All were reared from various species of ACG caterpillars during an ongoing inventory of caterpillars, their food plants and their parasitoids. By coupling morphology, photographic documentation, life history and molecular data, we provide a clear and concise description of each species. All are known to be previously undescribed as a result of a comprehensive study of the genus by DMW. Spathidexia atripalpus sp. n., Spathidexia juanvialesi sp. n., Spathidexia marioburgosi sp. n., Spathidexia luisrobertogallegosi sp. n., Spathidexia luteola sp. n., Spathidexia hernanrodriguezi sp. n. and Spathidexia aurantiaca sp. n. are all authored and described by Fleming and Wood. Minthodexiopsis Townsend is proposed by Wood as a new synonym of Spathidexia. A new combination proposed by Wood as a result of the new synonymy is S. flavicornis (Brauer & Bergenstamm) comb. n.
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