Cues used in host-seeking behavior by frog-biting midges (<i>Corethrella</i>spp. Coquillet)

Bernal, Ximena E.; Silva, Priyanka de

doi:10.1111/jvec.12140

Cited by 30 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…It is unlikely that the LED had an effect on the behavior of the midges. Frog‐biting midges rely exclusively on the advertisement call of their host without using other host‐emitted cues often used by hematophagous insects such as carbon dioxide (Bernal & de Silva ). Although many insects are attracted to white light (Nabli et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is unlikely that the LED had an effect on the behavior of the midges. Frog-biting midges rely exclusively on the advertisement call of their host without using other host-emitted cues often used by hematophagous insects such as carbon dioxide (Bernal & de Silva 2015). Although many insects are attracted to white light (Nabli et al 1999), similar to blood-feeding mosquitoes (Bentley et al 2009), frog-biting midges do not show this behavior and in fact respond by decreasing their movements in response to light (McMahon et al unpub.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2a; Bernal et al 2006). Although it has long been known that the advertisement call produced by t ungara frogs is sufficient to attract frog-biting midges (Bernal et al 2006), recent work has shown that the call is the only longdistance cue necessary for these eavesdroppers to detect and locate their host and ultimately obtain a blood meal (Bernal & de Silva 2015). In addition to taking a blood from calling male frogs, these midges act as vectors of a blood parasite, Trypanosoma tungarae (Bernal & Pinto, in review).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Acoustic Preference of Frog‐Biting Midges (Corethrella spp) Attacking Túngara Frogs in their Natural Habitat

2016

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In many animals, males aggregate to produce mating signals that attract conspecific females. These leks, however, also attract eavesdropping predators and parasites lured by the mating signal. This study investigates the acoustic preferences of eavesdroppers attracted to natural choruses in a Neotropical frog, the t ungara frog (Engystomops pustulosus). In particular, we examined the responses of frog-biting midges to natural variation in call properties and signaling rates of males in the chorus. These midges use the mating calls of the frogs to localize them and obtain a blood meal. Although it is known that the midges prefer complex over simple t ungara frog calls, it is unclear how these eavesdroppers respond to natural call variation when confronted with multiple males in a chorus. We investigated the acoustic preference of the midges using calling frogs in their natural environment and thus accounted for natural variation in their call properties. We performed field recordings using a sound imaging system to quantify the temporal call properties of males in small choruses. During these recordings, we also collected frog-biting midges attacking calling males. Our results revealed that, in a given chorus, male frogs calling at higher rates and with higher call complexity attracted a larger number of frog-biting midges. Call rate was particularly important at increasing the number of midges attracted when males produced calls of lower complexity. Similarly, call complexity increased attractiveness to the midges especially when males produced calls at a low repetition rate. Given that female t ungara frogs prefer calls produced at higher repetition rates and higher complexity, this study highlights the challenge faced by signalers when increasing attractiveness of the signal to their intended receivers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Acoustic Preference of Frog‐Biting Midges (Corethrella spp) Attacking Túngara Frogs in their Natural Habitat

2016

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“…, Borkent ). The midges depend on the mating calls produced by the frogs to locate and successfully feed on their host (Bernal and Silva ). In túngara frogs, once they reach the calling male, the midges walk to the nostrils of the frog, where they obtain a blood meal (de Silva et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Light and noise pollution interact to disrupt interspecific interactions

McMahon

Rohr

Bernal

2017

Ecology

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Studies on the consequences of urbanization often examine the effects of light, noise, and heat pollution independently on isolated species providing a limited understanding of how these combined stressors affect species interactions. Here, we investigate how these factors interact to affect parasitic frog-biting midges (Corethrella spp.) and their túngara frog (Engystomops pustulosus) hosts. A survey of túngara frog calling sites revealed that frog abundance was not significantly correlated with urbanization, light, noise, or temperature. In contrast, frog-biting midges were sensitive to light pollution and noise pollution. Increased light intensity significantly reduced midge abundance at low noise levels. At high noise intensity, there were no midges regardless of light level. Two field experiments controlling light and noise levels to examine attraction of the midges to their host and their feeding behavior confirmed the causality of these field patterns. These findings demonstrate that both light and noise pollution disrupt this host-parasite interaction and highlight the importance of considering interactions among species and types of pollutants to accurately assess the impacts of urbanization on ecological communities.

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“…Locating their hosts primarily by auditory cues (Borkent 2008, Bernal and de Silva 2015), they are an emerging study system in studying the ecology and evolution of acoustic eavesdropping behaviour (Bernal et al 2006, Grafe et al 2008, 2018, de Silva et al 2015, Caldart et al 2016, Legett et al 2018). Their fossil record extends back to the early Cretaceous and their ancient age is reflected in their biogeography which suggests Gondwanan vicariate events (Borkent 2008, Baranov et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new species of frog-biting midge from Papua New Guinea with a key to the described Corethrellidae of the Australopapuan region (Diptera, Corethrellidae, Corethrella)

Kvifte¹,

Bernal²

2018

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Corethrellaoppositophila Kvifte & Bernal, sp. n. is described based on one male and six female specimens collected at 2200 m a.s.l. on Mount Wilhelm, Papua New Guinea. The species is the fourth species of frog-biting midge described from this country and appears similar to Corethrellasolomonis Belkin based on pigmentation of legs and abdominal tergites. It differs from C.solomonis, however, in the shape of female flagellomeres I–III, and in the thorax which has a dark brown vertical stripe. The new species is named for its sexually dimorphic flagellomeres, which are short and squat in the female and elongate in the male. These differences in morphological characters are discussed in light of the likely sexual differences in functional uses of the antennae, as males use them for mating only whereas females use them both for mating and prey location. An emended key is presented to the described Australopapuan species of Corethrellidae.

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Cues used in host-seeking behavior by frog-biting midges (Corethrellaspp. Coquillet)

Abstract: We investigated the role of

Cited by 30 publications

References 38 publications

Acoustic Preference of Frog‐Biting Midges (Corethrella spp) Attacking Túngara Frogs in their Natural Habitat

Acoustic Preference of Frog‐Biting Midges (Corethrella spp) Attacking Túngara Frogs in their Natural Habitat

Light and noise pollution interact to disrupt interspecific interactions

A new species of frog-biting midge from Papua New Guinea with a key to the described Corethrellidae of the Australopapuan region (Diptera, Corethrellidae, Corethrella)

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