Patterns of Sound Produced by Courting Chalcidoid Males and Its Biological Significance

Abstract

Courting males of many species of chalcidoid wasps appear to produce sounds which can be recorded on tape. A few preliminary experiments were made with Nasonia vitripennis (Walk.) to investigate the biological functions, if any, of vibrating. Nasonia males can be silenced in a simple way, apparently without affecting their other courtship activities, by applying a small quantity of gum arabic on top of their thorax. Young, silenced males were as successful with courtship as untreated controls, but when older were definitely less successful than normal males of similar age. Courtship success of these older males increased significantly with a simultaneous playback of courtship sounds. RESUME CARACTÉRISTIQUES DES SONS ÉMIS PAR DES CHALCIDIENS MÂLES EN ACTIVITÉ SEXUEL‐LE (AVEC UNE NOTE SUR LEUR IMPORTANCE BIOLOGIQUE) Les mâles de la majorité des espèces de Chalcidiens émettent des sons pendant la parade. Ces émissions peuvent être enregistrées sur bande magnétique et analysées avec un oscilloscope et un sonographe. Les figures 1–3 représentent une série de sonogrammes illustrant ces émissions. Une éventuelle fonction biologique a été recherchée au cours d'expériences préliminaires avec Nasonia vitripennis. Les mâles de Nasonia peuvent être facilement rendus silencieux: une très faible quantité de gomme arabique appliquée sur le corselet entre les bases des ailes les rend silencieux sans modifier les autres activités de la parade. Les jeunes mâles silencieux et les mâles normaux ont le même succès sexuel, mais les mâles plus âgés traités sont nettement handicapés par rapport à leurs contemporains. Leurs performances sont cependant améliorées par émission simultanée par hautparleur, des chants de cour.

Acoustic emissions of tsetse

“…This is further suggested by the fact that the male starts drumming and singing again as soon as the female becomes restless. Similar drumming and singing behaviour has been observed in certain chalcidoid wasps by van den Assem and Putters (1980). This is indicated by the fact that acoustic-sexual behaviour differs between G. m. morsitans, G. f. fuscipes (Rudrauf, 1977) and in G. pallidipes (Jaenson, 1979a,b).…”

“…Males of many chalcidoid wasps also produce similar sounds when they come near to a conspecific female and when they are on top of the female in the courtship position (van den Assem and Putters, 1980). Honey bees, Apis mellifera and stingless bees of the genera Melipona and Trigona also produce sounds with partially or completely folded wings and according to Woods (1956) when these sounds are produced, the wings are vibrated laterally in a kind of scissors motion.…”

Female‐derived sex pheromone mediates courtship behaviour in the parasitoid Lariophagus distinguendus

“…However, it has been demonstrated that these vibrations are also produced after the wings have been removed, suggesting that only wing muscles are involved (van den Assem & Putters, 1980). The function of the male wing fanning remains unclear.…”

“…As demonstrated in L. distinguendus and some other pteromalids, species-specific vibrations are produced during wing fanning that can be interpreted as male signals towards the females. However, it has been demonstrated that these vibrations are also produced after the wings have been removed, suggesting that only wing muscles are involved (van den Assem & Putters, 1980). For example honeybees are able to produce vibrations without moving the wings (Kirchner, 1997).…”

COURTSHIP BEHAVIOUR OF NASONIA VITRIPENNIS: HEAD NODDING, MOUTH‐PART EXTRUSION AND PHEROMONE DISCHARGE BY ABDOMECTOMIZED MALES

“…The typical procedure is that the c~ chases the Q over a short distance, mounts, and takes up a frontal position on top, with his front tarsi placed on her head and his head protruding over her antennae. The male's courtship movements include a variety of limbs --e.g., wings, fore feet, antennae, mouth parts --and result in the production of a variety of stimuli --e.g., sounds (Van den Assem & Putters, 1980), tactile and chemical cues (Van den . A conspicuous component of the male's courtship is head nodding (i.e., moving the head up and down).…”