Comparison of the mating behaviour of a bush cricket in the laboratory and the field: Calling activity and mating frequency of a long-winged species, Phaneroptera falcata (Ensifera: Tettigoniidae)

Abstract

Abstract. Bush crickets are a model group for testing hypotheses in sexual selection, but much of the information is based on laboratory observations on wingless or short-winged species, which may restrict their generality. Here we describe aspects of the mating behaviour of the long-winged european bush cricket Phaneroptera falcata (Poda, 1761). Both in the laboratory and the field, diel calling followed a normal, though slightly left-skewed distribution, peaking about three hours after sunset or lights-off. under bright greenhouse conditions, when the light was suddenly switched off, calling occurred only after the onset of darkness. Decreasing light intensity may trigger the start of calling activity. in the field, calling decreased from midnight onwards, which may be related to a decrease in temperature. The sequence of events during copulation was identical in the laboratory and the field. however, in two of 14 copulations documented in the field, a pre-copulatory behaviour was observed that resembled the putative removal and ingestion of rival sperm. Previous suggestions that P. falcata (Poda) is monogamous are rejected on the basis of both laboratory and field results. in the laboratory males and females mated every 2.3 and 3.6 days, respectively. We introduce a simple way to calculate the average frequency of mating in the field, based on the observation that at any one time 3% of all the individuals are recorded mating and copulation lasts 15 min. We estimate that on average P. falcata (Poda) mates once per day. More generally, our results show it is important for evolutionary conclusions to measure behaviourial data in the field. * This article is based on a manuscript partly left unfinished when our colleague and friend Jörg tragically died on 11 april 2013. he last worked at the Swiss Federal Research Station ACW,

Nontarget catches of traps with chemical lures may refer to the flower‐visitation, probable pollination, and feeding of bush crickets (Ensifera: Tettigoniidae)

“…Phaneroptera falcata shows intermediate character since their nymphs and young adults feed and inhabit grasses during the summer, and then from late August, when the nights become colder adults stay mainly in the canopy. Males stridulate in the higher parts of shrubs and females lay their eggs also into the leaves of these plants (Samietz et al, 2017 ).…”

Similar songs, but different mate localization strategies of the three species of Phaneroptera occurring in Western Europe (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae)

“…Roesti & Keist (2009) state explicitly that they have never recorded responses of female falcata, but present such recordings for nana in their book and CD as does Bonnet (1995). Only Samietz et al (2014) describe female responses, but they do not seem to know that P. falcata has different types of song. So, for us it is a more plausible that by responding the female may stimulate the male to continue singing instead of informing him about her location although he may be able to use it.…”

“…However, their high mobility is also interesting in terms of their mate fi nding strategies. As in most tettigonioids, males produce calling songs to announce their presence to the females and the females of at least some of the species of Phaneroptera (Zhantiev & Korsunovskaya, 1986;Tauber et al, 2001;Samietz et al, 2014) are known to respond acoustically to males. This duetting behaviour is typical of the subfamily Phaneropterinae (Heller et al, 2015) and is described for many European species (e.g., Stumpner & Meyer, 2001;Heller et al, 2018).…”

Acoustic signalling in Orthoptera

“…Tan and Robillard, 2021b). In Phaneroptera falcata, singing activity peaks about three hours after sunset and decreases from midnight onwards (Samietz et al, 2014). The start of singing activity may be triggered by decreasing light intensity while the post-midnight decline may be related to a decrease in temperature.…”