Small Auchenorrhyncha use substrate-borne vibrations to communicate. Although this behaviour is well known in adult leafhoppers, so far no studies have been published on nymphs. Here we checked the occurrence of vibrational communication in Scaphoideus titanus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) nymphs as a possible explanation of their aggregative distributions on host plants. We studied possible vibratory emissions of isolated and grouped nymphs, as well as their behavioural responses to vibration stimuli that simulated presence of conspecifics, to disturbance noise, white noise and predator spiders. None of our synthetic stimuli or prerecorded substrate vibrations from nymphs elicited specific vibration responses and only those due to grooming or mechanical contacts of the insect with the leaf were recorded. Thus, S. titanus nymphs showed to not use species-specific vibrations neither for intra- nor interspecific communication and also did not produce alarm vibrations when facing potential predators. We conclude that their aggregative behaviour is independent from a vibrational communication.

Chuche, J.; Thiéry, D.; Mazzoni, V. (2011). Do Scaphoideus titanus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) nymphs use vibrational communication?. NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN, 98 (7): 639-642. doi: 10.1007/s00114-011-0808-x handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10449/20133

Do Scaphoideus titanus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) nymphs use vibrational communication?

Mazzoni, V.
2011-01-01

Abstract

Small Auchenorrhyncha use substrate-borne vibrations to communicate. Although this behaviour is well known in adult leafhoppers, so far no studies have been published on nymphs. Here we checked the occurrence of vibrational communication in Scaphoideus titanus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) nymphs as a possible explanation of their aggregative distributions on host plants. We studied possible vibratory emissions of isolated and grouped nymphs, as well as their behavioural responses to vibration stimuli that simulated presence of conspecifics, to disturbance noise, white noise and predator spiders. None of our synthetic stimuli or prerecorded substrate vibrations from nymphs elicited specific vibration responses and only those due to grooming or mechanical contacts of the insect with the leaf were recorded. Thus, S. titanus nymphs showed to not use species-specific vibrations neither for intra- nor interspecific communication and also did not produce alarm vibrations when facing potential predators. We conclude that their aggregative behaviour is independent from a vibrational communication.
Substrate-borne signals
Host–predatory interaction
Playback stimulation
Intraspecific interaction
Segnali_vibrazionali
Interazioni predatori-preda
Stimolazione in playback
Interazioni intraspecifiche
Settore AGR/11 - ENTOMOLOGIA GENERALE E APPLICATA
2011
Chuche, J.; Thiéry, D.; Mazzoni, V. (2011). Do Scaphoideus titanus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) nymphs use vibrational communication?. NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN, 98 (7): 639-642. doi: 10.1007/s00114-011-0808-x handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10449/20133
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10449/20133
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