Male Enchenopa treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae) vary mate-searching behavior but not signaling behavior in response to spider silk

Fowler‐Finn, Kasey D.; Al-Wathiqui, Nooria; Cruz, Daniel; Al-Wathiqui, Mishal; Rodrı́guez, Rafael L.

doi:10.1007/s00114-014-1145-7

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…However, the opposite phenomenon, in which single individuals are more endangered than their coupled counterparts, has been also reported (Gwynne 1989 ). When searching for mates, animals often become more active and/or have to abandon their hiding places and can therefore be more easily detected (Sakaluk and Belwood 1984 ; Gwynne 1989 ; Rowe 1994 ; Downes 2002 ; Fowler-Finn et al 2014 ). This may also apply to Ac.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of predation risk on spermatophore deposition rate of the eriophyoid mite, Aculops allotrichus

Michalska

2015

Exp Appl Acarol

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Eriophyoids are minute herbivores in which males deposit spermatophores on a substrate while females, independent of the presence of males, pick up sperm (sex dissociation). Their most dangerous enemies are phytoseiid mites. Eriophyoids can successfully avoid the predation by, e.g., forming galls in which they live, by inhabiting narrow spaces on plants, or by climbing up leaf trichomes for the time of quiescence. All these behaviours, however, are fixed and independent of the actual risk of predation. The aim of this study was to examine whether eriophyoids can respond to the cues of predation risk and how this could affect their spermatophore deposition rate. Aculops allotrichus is a vagrant eriophyoid which inhabits leaves of the black locust tree, Robinia pseudoacacia. On leaf arenas with injured conspecifics (pierced with a fine needle which simulated the attack of phytoseiids), single males of Ac. allotrichus deposited a similar number of spermatophores as on control, 'clean' leaves. They did not respond to the cues left by the non-enemy, yeast-fed acarid mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae either. However, they deposited significantly fewer spermatophores on leaf arenas previously exposed to the presence of the eriophyoid-fed phytoseiid mite Amblyseius swirskii. This is a first report indicating that eriophyoids can respond to the cues left by predators and change their reproductive activity accordingly. The ultimate and proximate factors that may influence the behaviour of Ac. allotrichus males are discussed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of predation risk on spermatophore deposition rate of the eriophyoid mite, Aculops allotrichus

Michalska

2015

Exp Appl Acarol

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“…Male E. binotata signal in successive signal bouts, which comprise six signals on average, that systematically change in amplitude across signals and whine portion of the signal (Rodriguez et al., ). Thus, we used a standard landmark signal and position within the signal to measure signal frequency: the end of the whine portion of the third signal in the second signal bout (Figure ), or the closest to that signal if fewer were produced (Cocroft, Rafael, & Hunt Randy, ; Fowler‐Finn, Al‐Wathiqui, Cruz, Al‐Wathiqui, & Rodríguez, ; Fowler‐Finn & Rodriguez, ; Fowler‐Finn & Rodríguez, ; Sattman & Cocroft, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperature coupling of mate attraction signals and female mate preferences in four populations of Enchenopa treehopper (Hemiptera: Membracidae)

Jocson

Smeester

Leith

et al. 2019

J of Evolutionary Biology

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Variation in temperature can affect the expression of a variety of important fitness‐related behaviours, including those involved with mate attraction and selection, with consequences for the coordination of mating across variable environments. We examined how temperature influences the expression of male mating signals and female mate preferences—as well as the relationship between how male signals and female mate preferences change across temperatures (signal–preference temperature coupling)—in Enchenopa binotata treehoppers. These small plant‐feeding insects communicate using plantborne vibrations, and our field surveys indicate they experience significant natural variation in temperature during the mating season. We tested for signal–preference temperature coupling in four populations of E. binotata by manipulating temperature in a controlled laboratory environment. We measured the frequency of male signals—the trait for which females show strongest preference—and female peak preference—the signal frequency most preferred by females—across a range of biologically relevant temperatures (18°C–36°C). We found a strong effect of temperature on both male signals and female preferences, which generated signal–preference temperature coupling within each population. Even in a population in which male signals mismatched female preferences, the temperature coupling reinforces predicted directional selection across all temperatures. Additionally, we found similar thermal sensitivity in signals and preferences across populations even though populations varied in the mean frequency of male signals and female peak preference. Together, these results suggest that temperature variation should not affect the action of sexual selection via female choice, but rather should reinforce stabilizing selection in populations with signal–preference matches, and directional selection in those with signal–preference mismatches. Finally, we do not predict that thermal variation will disrupt the coordination of mating in this species by generating signal–preference mismatches at thermal extremes.

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“…Males can also reduce predation risk by modifying their movements in the perceived presence of the predators. In the treehopper E. binotata, male behavioral response to the presence of spider silk was to reduce call-fly behavior but not their calling rate (Fowler-Finn et al, 2014).…”

Section: Avoiding Eavesdropping Enemiesmentioning

confidence: 98%

Predator-Prey Interactions and Eavesdropping in Vibrational Communication Networks

et al. 2019

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Due to human perceptional bias in favor of airborne sounds, substrate-borne vibrational signaling has been traditionally regarded as a highly specialized, inherently short-range and, consequently, a private communication channel, free from eavesdropping by sexual competitors and predators. In this review, we synthesize current knowledge pertinent to the view that most animals live in a rich vibratory world, where vibrational information is available to unintended receivers. In recent years, we realized that vibrational signaling is one of the oldest and taxonomically most widespread forms of communication by mechanical waves and that receptors detecting substrate vibrations are ubiquitous. In nature, substrate vibrations are reliable source of information readily available to all members of the animal community able to detect them. Viewing vibrational communication in more relevant ecological context reveals that animals relying on substrate vibrations live in complex communication networks. Long evolutionary history of this communication channel is reflected in varied and sophisticated predator-prey interactions guided by substrate-borne vibrations. Eavesdropping and exploitation of vibrational signals used in sexual communication have been so far largely neglected; however, existing studies show that generalist arthropod predators can intercept such signals emitted by insects to obtain information about prey availability and use that information when making foraging decisions. Moreover, males which advertise themselves for longer periods than females and with vibrational signals of higher amplitude face higher predation risk. It is likely that eavesdropping and exploitation of vibrational signals are major drivers in the evolution taking place in the vibratory world and we believe that studies of interspecific interactions guided by substrate vibrations will, in the future, offer numerous opportunities to unravel mechanisms that are central to understanding behavior in general.

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Male Enchenopa treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae) vary mate-searching behavior but not signaling behavior in response to spider silk

Cited by 6 publications

References 47 publications

The effect of predation risk on spermatophore deposition rate of the eriophyoid mite, Aculops allotrichus

The effect of predation risk on spermatophore deposition rate of the eriophyoid mite, Aculops allotrichus

Temperature coupling of mate attraction signals and female mate preferences in four populations of Enchenopa treehopper (Hemiptera: Membracidae)

Predator-Prey Interactions and Eavesdropping in Vibrational Communication Networks

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