Comparison of the mating behaviour of a bush cricket in the laboratory and the field: Calling activity and mating frequency of a long-winged species, Phaneroptera falcata (Ensifera: Tettigoniidae)
Bush crickets are a model group for testing hypotheses in sexual selection, but much of the information is based on laboratory observations on wingless or short-winged species, which may restrict their generality. Here we describe aspects of the mating behaviour of the long-winged European bush cric...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science
2014-05-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Entomology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-201402-0005_Comparison_of_the_mating_behaviour_of_a_bush_cricket_in_the_laboratory_and_8239_the_field_Calling_activity_an.php |
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| author | Jörg SAMIETZ Jens SCHUMACHER Klaus REINHARDT |
| author_facet | Jörg SAMIETZ Jens SCHUMACHER Klaus REINHARDT |
| author_sort | Jörg SAMIETZ |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bush crickets are a model group for testing hypotheses in sexual selection, but much of the information is based on laboratory observations on wingless or short-winged species, which may restrict their generality. Here we describe aspects of the mating behaviour of the long-winged European bush cricket Phaneroptera falcata (Poda, 1761). Both in the laboratory and the field, diel calling followed a normal, though slightly left-skewed distribution, peaking about three hours after sunset or lights-off. Under bright greenhouse conditions, when the light was suddenly switched off, calling occurred only after the onset of darkness. Decreasing light intensity may trigger the start of calling activity. In the field, calling decreased from midnight onwards, which may be related to a decrease in temperature. The sequence of events during copulation was identical in the laboratory and the field. However, in two of 14 copulations documented in the field, a pre-copulatory behaviour was observed that resembled the putative removal and ingestion of rival sperm. Previous suggestions that P. falcata (Poda) is monogamous are rejected on the basis of both laboratory and field results. In the laboratory males and females mated every 2.3 and 3.6 days, respectively. We introduce a simple way to calculate the average frequency of mating in the field, based on the observation that at any one time 3% of all the individuals are recorded mating and copulation lasts 15 min. We estimate that on average P. falcata (Poda) mates once per day. More generally, our results show it is important for evolutionary conclusions to measure behaviourial data in the field. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T05:48:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5362bfc779604ca7a57efa4bdfa67645 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1210-5759 1802-8829 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T05:48:21Z |
| publishDate | 2014-05-01 |
| publisher | Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Entomology |
| spelling | doaj.art-5362bfc779604ca7a57efa4bdfa676452022-12-21T20:33:43ZengInstitute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of ScienceEuropean Journal of Entomology1210-57591802-88292014-05-01111218919710.14411/eje.2014.019eje-201402-0005Comparison of the mating behaviour of a bush cricket in the laboratory and the field: Calling activity and mating frequency of a long-winged species, Phaneroptera falcata (Ensifera: Tettigoniidae)Jörg SAMIETZ0Jens SCHUMACHER1Klaus REINHARDT2Friedrich-Schiller-University, Institute of Ecology, Dornburger Str. 159, D-07743 Jena, GermanyFriedrich-Schiller-University, Institute of Ecology, Dornburger Str. 159, D-07743 Jena, GermanyAnimal Evolutionary Ecology, University of Tuebingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany; e-mail: k.reinhardt@uni-tuebingen.deBush crickets are a model group for testing hypotheses in sexual selection, but much of the information is based on laboratory observations on wingless or short-winged species, which may restrict their generality. Here we describe aspects of the mating behaviour of the long-winged European bush cricket Phaneroptera falcata (Poda, 1761). Both in the laboratory and the field, diel calling followed a normal, though slightly left-skewed distribution, peaking about three hours after sunset or lights-off. Under bright greenhouse conditions, when the light was suddenly switched off, calling occurred only after the onset of darkness. Decreasing light intensity may trigger the start of calling activity. In the field, calling decreased from midnight onwards, which may be related to a decrease in temperature. The sequence of events during copulation was identical in the laboratory and the field. However, in two of 14 copulations documented in the field, a pre-copulatory behaviour was observed that resembled the putative removal and ingestion of rival sperm. Previous suggestions that P. falcata (Poda) is monogamous are rejected on the basis of both laboratory and field results. In the laboratory males and females mated every 2.3 and 3.6 days, respectively. We introduce a simple way to calculate the average frequency of mating in the field, based on the observation that at any one time 3% of all the individuals are recorded mating and copulation lasts 15 min. We estimate that on average P. falcata (Poda) mates once per day. More generally, our results show it is important for evolutionary conclusions to measure behaviourial data in the field.https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-201402-0005_Comparison_of_the_mating_behaviour_of_a_bush_cricket_in_the_laboratory_and_8239_the_field_Calling_activity_an.phpensiferatettigoniidaephaneroptera falcatamultiple matingnuptial giftpolyandryreproductive behavioursperm competition |
| spellingShingle | Jörg SAMIETZ Jens SCHUMACHER Klaus REINHARDT Comparison of the mating behaviour of a bush cricket in the laboratory and the field: Calling activity and mating frequency of a long-winged species, Phaneroptera falcata (Ensifera: Tettigoniidae) European Journal of Entomology ensifera tettigoniidae phaneroptera falcata multiple mating nuptial gift polyandry reproductive behaviour sperm competition |
| title | Comparison of the mating behaviour of a bush cricket in the laboratory and the field: Calling activity and mating frequency of a long-winged species, Phaneroptera falcata (Ensifera: Tettigoniidae) |
| title_full | Comparison of the mating behaviour of a bush cricket in the laboratory and the field: Calling activity and mating frequency of a long-winged species, Phaneroptera falcata (Ensifera: Tettigoniidae) |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of the mating behaviour of a bush cricket in the laboratory and the field: Calling activity and mating frequency of a long-winged species, Phaneroptera falcata (Ensifera: Tettigoniidae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of the mating behaviour of a bush cricket in the laboratory and the field: Calling activity and mating frequency of a long-winged species, Phaneroptera falcata (Ensifera: Tettigoniidae) |
| title_short | Comparison of the mating behaviour of a bush cricket in the laboratory and the field: Calling activity and mating frequency of a long-winged species, Phaneroptera falcata (Ensifera: Tettigoniidae) |
| title_sort | comparison of the mating behaviour of a bush cricket in the laboratory and the field calling activity and mating frequency of a long winged species phaneroptera falcata ensifera tettigoniidae |
| topic | ensifera tettigoniidae phaneroptera falcata multiple mating nuptial gift polyandry reproductive behaviour sperm competition |
| url | https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-201402-0005_Comparison_of_the_mating_behaviour_of_a_bush_cricket_in_the_laboratory_and_8239_the_field_Calling_activity_an.php |
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