Male calling, mating and oviposition in Isoperla curtata (Plecoptera: Perlodidae)

Abstract

The reproductive biology (drumming call, mating behaviour, fecundity and egg structure) of Isoperla curtata, an endemic species from the Southern Iberian Peninsula, is described. The male's mating call has a diphasic pattern, with a mean of 17.3 beats per call (range = 8-27; SD = 4.7) and a duration of 792.9 ms per call (range = 228-1312; SD = 307.9). This call differs from that of other species of Isoperla in having two distinct phases with different millisecond intervals, and is species-specific. Mating lasts between 131 and 3864 seconds (mean = 2180.9 s and SD = 1027.8). Since males and females mate more than once (mean number of matings per female was 1.85 and per male 2.25), the species is polyandric and polygynic. The position adopted by the male during mating is different from that described for other stonefly species. Other mating behaviours are interpreted as displacement manoeuvers, tactile stimulation and possibly sexual selection by cryptic female choice. There was a statistically significant correlation between size and the number of matings in females (r = 0.849; p = 0.016), but not in males. Each female laid between one to four egg masses composed of an average of 88.7 eggs. Maximum fecundity was 319 eggs. The mean egg volume was 80.5 x 105 pm3 which is very similar to that of other Isoperla species. An outstanding morphological characteristic of the egg is the lobed outline of the chorion cells.

Life history and emergence patterns of stonefly species in mountain streams of the Futaleufú basin, Patagonia (Argentina)

“…Our results indicate that the small-medium sized (0.5-1.5 cm) Aubertoperla illiesi, Senzilloides panguipulli, Antarctoperla michaelseni and Notoperlopsis femina (Gripopterygidae) had univoltine life histories in the Futaleufú Basin. Similarly, many small-medium sized Plecoptera species in the Northern Hemisphere have univoltine life histories (Harper et al 1991, Tierno de Figueroa et al 2001, Richardson 2001 as do numerous Southern Hemisphere Gripopterygidae including Antarctoperlinae (Winterbourn 1966, 1978, Hynes & Hynes 1975, Bunn 1988, Death 1990). …”

“…Plecoptera communities have been used to assess organic pollution (Miserendino 2000) and to evaluate land use effects in watersheds affected by agriculture and cattle ranching (Miserendino & Pizolón 2004, Miserendino 2006. However, and in contrast with the situation in the Northern Hemisphere (Harper et al1991, Sheldon 1999, Tierno de Figueroa et al 2001, Richardson 2001) and other countries of the Southern Hemisphere (Winterbourn et al 1981, Bunn 1988, little is known about the life histories and emergence periods of aquatic insects in Patagonia . In particular, no life history studies have been made on Plecoptera species in Patagonia.…”

Life History of a Population of Protonemura intricata (Ris, 1902) (Insecta, Plecoptera) in a Constant Temperature Stream in Central Europe

“…The presence of an extended flight period, lasting more than two seasons, is not unusual for other Protonemura species from Europe (e.g., TIERNO DE FIGUEROA et al, 2001).…”

Implications of imaginal-size variation over the flight period in stoneflies (Plecoptera)

“…Moreover, the maximum in mean size of individuals sometimes does not coincide with the peak flight period (Tierno de Figueroa et al 2001), except when this peak occurs at the beginning of the flight period. Largest specimens therefore usually emerged slightly before the optimum time of reproduction.…”