Previous flight facilitates partner finding in female crickets

Abstract

In the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus, flying occurs soon after the last imaginal molt and precedes the mating behavior in natural conditions. Here, we tested the hypothesis that flying may improve subsequent behavioral performance in a novel environment in female crickets. We developed a behavioral set-up to test female cricket responsiveness to male calling song as well as their ability to locate and find the source of the song. The male song was produced by a loudspeaker hidden behind the fabric wall of a spacious square arena. Forced flight prior to the test promoted female sexual searching behavior in the novel environment. After the flight, more females reached the hidden source zone, spent more time near the source and finally more of them climbed over the wall section immediately in front of the hidden loudspeaker. At the same time, their behavior in the arena did not differ from the control group when the calling song was not delivered, suggesting that flight exerts its behavioral effects by influencing sexual motivation. Our results support the suggestion that preceding intense locomotion facilitates sexual searching behavior of females in a novel environment.

Exercise and the Brain: Lessons From Invertebrate Studies

“…As a result, resources are mobilized towards increasing the speed and effectiveness of making decisions-the proverbial ''think fast!''. Indeed, all behavioral effects of intense locomotion are favorable for adaptation and orientation in novel environments, as have been discussed in previous works on phylogenetically distant species (Korshunova et al, 2016;Aonuma et al, 2020;Mezheritskiy et al, 2020), including mammals. In the latter, exercise activates exploration of new territories (Yin et al, 2013), promotes new learning and forgetting old memories (Epp et al, 2016).…”

“…Besides, different procedures were used and different effects of species-specific locomotion on cognitive functions were evaluated, which complicates the comparative analysis. In C. elegans , swimming protected against neurodegeneration, improved associative learning (Laranjeiro et al, 2019 ), accelerated nerve regeneration (Kumar et al, 2021 ); in L. stagnalis , terrestrial crawling increased activity and facilitated the decision making in novel environment (Korshunova et al, 2016 ); in Drosophila spp., vertical climbing increased endurance, improved sleep and feeding behavior (for review, Watanabe and Riddle, 2019 ), in G. bimaculatus , flight improved orientation via conspecific phonotaxis (Mezheritskiy et al, 2020 ), enhanced aggressiveness (Hofmann and Stevenson, 2000 ), promoted mating (Dyakonova and Krushinsky, 2008 ) and increased the resistance to disturbing stimuli (Stevenson et al, 2005 ). Many of these effects (underlined in the previous sentences) have been described in mammals as beneficial results of running, suggesting again certain similarity between distantly-related species.…”

“…In Drosophila , flying and or/vertical climbing increased endurance and life span, improved sleep and feeding behavior (for review, Watanabe and Riddle, 2019 ). In G. bimaculatus , flight improved orientation via conspecific phonotaxis (Sergejeva and Popov, 1994 ; Mezheritskiy et al, 2020 ), enhanced aggressiveness (Hofmann and Stevenson, 2000 ; Stevenson et al, 2005 ), promoted mating (Dyakonova and Krushinsky, 2008 ). In C. elegans , swimming protected against neurodegeneration, improved associative learning (Laranjeiro et al, 2019 ), accelerated nerve regeneration (Kumar et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Second, previous flying activated calling and courtship singing and resulted in faster mating success (Dyakonova and Krushinsky, 2008 ). It also decreased the escape response to the startling wind stimulation applied to the cricket cerci (Stevenson et al, 2005 ) In contrast, the response to male calling song was augmented during flying (Nolen and Hoy, 1986 ; Sergejeva and Popov, 1994 ) and 5 min after it (Mezheritskiy et al, 2020 ), Similarly, spontaneous activity and evoked responses to visual signals of motion-sensitive sensory neurons have been modulated by flying in the blowfly Lucilia spp., and octopamine agonists imitated the influence of flight (Jung et al, 2011 ). Therefore, while the avoidance response to disturbing tactile stimulation was decreased, the responses towards neutral or attractive sensory stimuli were potentiated by flight.…”

“…Therefore, while the avoidance response to disturbing tactile stimulation was decreased, the responses towards neutral or attractive sensory stimuli were potentiated by flight. Finally, female crickets after flying showed a better ability to find the way to reach the hidden source of the male call (Mezheritskiy et al, 2020 ). The latter finding suggests an augmentation of some cognitive skills by flying.…”