Acoustics of the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) (Curculionidae, Scolytinae): sonic, ultrasonic, and vibration characteristics

Abstract

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.

Substrate-Borne Vibrations Induce Behavioral Responses in the Leaf-Dwelling Cerambycid, Paraglenea fortunei

“…Utilization of substrate-borne vibrations has been reported in some coleopterans other than cerambycids (Goulson et al, 1994;Hanrahan and Kirchener, 1994;Kojima et al, 2012;Fleming et al, 2013). However, the ability to discriminate biotic from abiotic vibrations was not previously investigated in coleopteran species.…”

Influence of light on sound production behaviors in the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis

“…In other Coleoptera, sounds are associated with intraspecific communication between potential mates (Wessel, ). For example, stridulation by an individual prior to entering the gallery of a conspecific is a necessity for several scolytine species, including Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Fleming et al., ), Dendroctonus valens (LeConte) (Lindeman & Yack, ), and Ips confusus (LeConte) (Barr, ). Stridulation is also an important prezygotic barrier in free‐living species, including species within Geotrupidae (Carisio et al., ), Hydrophilidae (Van Tassell, ), Silphidae (Hall et al., ), and Scarabaeidae (Kasper & Hirschberger, ).…”

Anatomy of the stridulation apparatus of the beech leaf‐mining weevil and characterization of, and behavioral responses to, stridulation sounds

“…Little is known about predation of adult O. fagi (Beirne, ; Nielsen, ; Pullin, ), and further research is necessary to determine whether stridulatory sounds would deter potential predators of this species. However, in addition to their role in interspecific communication for defense against predators, distress sounds may also conceivably act as an alarm signal, affecting behavior of nearby conspecifics, for example, in response to attack by a predator (Fleming et al, ; Takanashi et al, ). Conspecifics that fled the immediate vicinity in response to a distress chirp may increase their chances of escaping predation.…”