Female calling and male flight orientation and searching behaviors in Callisphyris apicicornis: evidence for a female-produced sex attractant pheromone

Abstract

T. Curkovic, and C. Ferrera. 2012. Female calling and male flight orientation and searching behaviors in Callisphyris apicicornis: evidence for a female-produced sex attractant pheromone. Cien. Inv. Agr. 39(1): 147-158. Callisphyris apicicornis is a fruit pest of increasing concern in Chile. To aid in the identification of its sex pheromone for use in the management of this insect, "calling" (pheromone release) of females and "orientation and searching" behaviors of males to calling females were video recorded. Light intensity, wind speed, temperature, time of the day, and the frequency of individuals performing each step within both behavioral sequences were recorded as well. Drawings of the behavioral steps and ethograms (routes and returns) are also provided, including transition frequencies between behavioral steps. The calling behavior of females included diagnostic movements of the abdomen, legs, elytra, and wings, showing similarities to the descriptions of other cerambycid species in which females call. The orientation and searching behavior of males included zigzagging flights (characteristic steps observed in insects responding to airborne pheromone plumes) and landing on and searching for females in cages. Females called and males responded mainly between 9 AM and 1 PM. Both behaviors were performed in a non-random fashion and were stereotyped. Calling behavior was significantly affected by light (apparently triggering the behavior) but not by wind speed, ambient temperature, or female age. Males tended to respond most strongly to younger females, although these called significantly less frequently than older ones. These results strongly support the existence of a female-produced sex pheromone in C. apicicornis and provide the background information to aid in attempts of pheromone collection and identification. Male behavior characterization also provides a base-line to compare with tests to evaluate the activity of putative pheromones for this species. This study is one of the first reports of a cerambycid species in which the female calls and the male consequently responds to her and the first one on the characterization of the calling and oriented searching behaviors for a Necydalinae.

Evidence that Cerambycid Beetles Mimic Vespid Wasps in Odor as well as Appearance

“…Branches were placed in Flanders cages (Curkovic and Ferrera 2012) in the laboratory (~20 ± 5 °C, natural photoregime). Cages were checked every morning to collect freshly emerged adults, which were sexed (males are smaller than females, and have longer antennae).…”

“…data) whereas adults of M. robiniae visit flowers of Solidago species (Wheeler et al 1988). The diurnal adults of C. apicicornis also are frequently found on flowers (Curkovic and Ferrera 2012), and, like adults of closely related species, are thought to mimic hymenopterans such as species of Hypodynerus (Vespidae) and Pepsis (Pompilidae), resembling them in color, form, and flight behavior (Barriga and Peña 1994). …”

Behavioral and physiological response of male Callisphyris apicicornis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) to virgin con-specific females’ extracts

“…; Rosaceae), and pineapple guava (Acca sellowiana [O. Berg] Burret; Myrtaceae) in several localities in central Chile, near Santiago (33°26' S, 70°40' W), Rancagua (34°10' S, 70°44' W), and Linares (35°47' S, 71°35' W), from August through October, during the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons. They were kept in Flanders cages (as described by Curkovic and Ferrera, 2012) in the laboratory at ~ 20 ± 5 °C, 50 ± 5% RH, and a natural photoregime. Cages were revised daily at ~ 08:00-09:00 h, Monday through Friday, to collect freshly emerged (virgin) adults.…”

“…Volatiles were trapped by enclosing five individuals in a 900 mL Pyrex glass chamber (9 cm internal diameter [id] and 14.5 cm high) for a 24 h period. Curkovic and Ferrera (2012) identified conditions for putative pheromone release ("calling") from females in the field and those were recreated as much as possible in this work inside the HS chambers. Volatiles were collected on Porapak Q (80-100 mesh, Waters Associates, Milford, Massachusetts, USA) traps.…”

“…This approach requires studies of behavior and chemical ecology of these organisms (Harris and Foster, 1995). In an earlier work, the sequences of calling behavior of females and the searching behavior of males were described, suggesting the existence of a female-produced sex-pheromone (Curkovic and Ferrera, 2012). In this work, we studied the behavioral and electrophysiological responses of males to live females and to extracts from females in the field and in the laboratory, as a step further towards the future identification of the sex pheromone.…”