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Hermann M Niemeyer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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male Wing Fanning by the aphid parasitoid aphidius ervi hymenoptera braconidae produces a courtship song
Bulletin of Entomological Research, 2011Co-Authors: Cristian A Villagra, Carlos F Pinto, M Penna, Hermann M NiemeyerAbstract:We, herein, report evidence that Wing Fanning by the aphid parasitoid Aphidius ervi Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) constitutes a courtship song. Complete removal of the foreWings or only the distal half of them reduced male copulation success in comparison to intact males. Males that achieved copulation within the observation period produced Wing Fanning at a higher rate than males that did not copulate. Playback of Wing Fanning sound altered the behaviour of virgin females, increasing the time they devoted to grooming, as compared with subjects that were exposedto silence or white noise. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the acoustic dimension of the sensory modalities employed by this aphid parasitoid in sexual signalling.
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olfactory conditioning in mate searching by the parasitoid aphidius ervi hymenoptera braconidae
Bulletin of Entomological Research, 2008Co-Authors: Cristian A Villagra, Rodrigo A. Vásquez, Hermann M NiemeyerAbstract:Despite the fact that insect learning capacity has been broadly demonstrated, the role that this process plays during mate searching has been scarcely explored. We studied whether the sexual behaviour of a male parasitic wasp can be conditioned to the odours from two alternative host plant complexes (HPCs) present during its first copulation. The experimental subjects were newly emerged males of the aphid parasitoid, Aphidius ervi, and two alternative HPCs (alfalfa or wheat). In the training protocol, copulation experience corresponded to an unconditioning stimulus and HPC odours to the conditioning stimuli. The initial (just after eclosion) and trained responses were assessed in a glass Y-olfactometer. The results showed that neither alfalfa HPC nor wheat HPC stimuli elicited sexualrelated behaviours in initial male responses. Conversely, both HPCs triggered strong attraction and Wing Fanning courtship behaviour in trained responses when the male was exposed to a female plus HPC during training. In males trained with females plus a given HPC but tested with the alternative HPC in the olfactometer, trained response showed a similar trend to the non-associative treatments. Hence, through learning, the olfactory stimulus context present during copulation could become a predictive cue for further mate searching. These results are discussed in terms of parasitic wasp ecology and host fidelity.
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associative odour learning affects mating behaviour in aphidius ervi males hymenoptera braconidae
European Journal of Endocrinology, 2005Co-Authors: Cristian A Villagra, Rodrigo A. Vásquez, Hermann M NiemeyerAbstract:We used the aphid parasitoid Aphidius ervi reared in its host Acyrthosiphon pisum to examine if male sexual attractive responses can be conditioned to an odour (vanilla) that is not present in the natural environment. We used prior mating experience (exposure to females) as a non-conditioning stimulus and vanilla odour as a conditioning stimulus. The behavioural responses were tested in a glass Y-olfactometer just after eclosion (i.e., initial response) and after a training experience (i.e., trained response). During the 10-min training period individual males were allowed to copulate with a virgin female with or without vanilla odour pre- sent, or were exposed only to vanilla odour. Wing Fanning was a recurrent behaviour which denoted increased sexual attraction to a volatile stimulus. Total time and time doing Wing Fanning in each olfactometer arm were determined. Vanilla odour, which initially did not elicit sexual-related behaviours, triggered strong sexual attractive responses when males were trained to females plus vanilla odour. Neither copulation only nor vanilla odour only treatments elicited such behaviours in trained males. The results are discussed in terms of parasitoid learning ability and its ecological consequences.
Cristian A Villagra - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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male Wing Fanning by the aphid parasitoid aphidius ervi hymenoptera braconidae produces a courtship song
Bulletin of Entomological Research, 2011Co-Authors: Cristian A Villagra, Carlos F Pinto, M Penna, Hermann M NiemeyerAbstract:We, herein, report evidence that Wing Fanning by the aphid parasitoid Aphidius ervi Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) constitutes a courtship song. Complete removal of the foreWings or only the distal half of them reduced male copulation success in comparison to intact males. Males that achieved copulation within the observation period produced Wing Fanning at a higher rate than males that did not copulate. Playback of Wing Fanning sound altered the behaviour of virgin females, increasing the time they devoted to grooming, as compared with subjects that were exposedto silence or white noise. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the acoustic dimension of the sensory modalities employed by this aphid parasitoid in sexual signalling.
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olfactory conditioning in mate searching by the parasitoid aphidius ervi hymenoptera braconidae
Bulletin of Entomological Research, 2008Co-Authors: Cristian A Villagra, Rodrigo A. Vásquez, Hermann M NiemeyerAbstract:Despite the fact that insect learning capacity has been broadly demonstrated, the role that this process plays during mate searching has been scarcely explored. We studied whether the sexual behaviour of a male parasitic wasp can be conditioned to the odours from two alternative host plant complexes (HPCs) present during its first copulation. The experimental subjects were newly emerged males of the aphid parasitoid, Aphidius ervi, and two alternative HPCs (alfalfa or wheat). In the training protocol, copulation experience corresponded to an unconditioning stimulus and HPC odours to the conditioning stimuli. The initial (just after eclosion) and trained responses were assessed in a glass Y-olfactometer. The results showed that neither alfalfa HPC nor wheat HPC stimuli elicited sexualrelated behaviours in initial male responses. Conversely, both HPCs triggered strong attraction and Wing Fanning courtship behaviour in trained responses when the male was exposed to a female plus HPC during training. In males trained with females plus a given HPC but tested with the alternative HPC in the olfactometer, trained response showed a similar trend to the non-associative treatments. Hence, through learning, the olfactory stimulus context present during copulation could become a predictive cue for further mate searching. These results are discussed in terms of parasitic wasp ecology and host fidelity.
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associative odour learning affects mating behaviour in aphidius ervi males hymenoptera braconidae
European Journal of Endocrinology, 2005Co-Authors: Cristian A Villagra, Rodrigo A. Vásquez, Hermann M NiemeyerAbstract:We used the aphid parasitoid Aphidius ervi reared in its host Acyrthosiphon pisum to examine if male sexual attractive responses can be conditioned to an odour (vanilla) that is not present in the natural environment. We used prior mating experience (exposure to females) as a non-conditioning stimulus and vanilla odour as a conditioning stimulus. The behavioural responses were tested in a glass Y-olfactometer just after eclosion (i.e., initial response) and after a training experience (i.e., trained response). During the 10-min training period individual males were allowed to copulate with a virgin female with or without vanilla odour pre- sent, or were exposed only to vanilla odour. Wing Fanning was a recurrent behaviour which denoted increased sexual attraction to a volatile stimulus. Total time and time doing Wing Fanning in each olfactometer arm were determined. Vanilla odour, which initially did not elicit sexual-related behaviours, triggered strong sexual attractive responses when males were trained to females plus vanilla odour. Neither copulation only nor vanilla odour only treatments elicited such behaviours in trained males. The results are discussed in terms of parasitoid learning ability and its ecological consequences.
Giovanni Benelli - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Wing Fanning frequency as a releaser boosting male mating success high speed video analysis of courtship behavior in campoplex capitator a parasitoid of lobesia botrana
Insect Science, 2020Co-Authors: Giovanni Benelli, Cesare Stefanini, Renato Ricciardi, Donato Romano, Francesca Cosci, Andrea LucchiAbstract:Campoplex capitator is an ichneumonid parasitoid with a narrow host range, comprising grapevine moth pests. Despite being considered one of the possible candidates for biocontrol of Lobesia botrana, knowledge about its biology is limited and mass-rearing for commercial purposes is still lacking. This research provides a quantitative analysis of the C. capitator courtship and mating behavior. C. capitator mating sequence was analyzed by high-speed video recordings. Main behavioral parameters, with special reference to male Wing Fanning and antennal tapping, were quantified and linked with mating success. Furthermore, we analyzed the occurrence of population-level behavioral asymmetries during C. capitator sexual interactions and their impact on male success. Results showed that male Wing Fanning was crucial to successfully approach the female. Males achieving higher mating success performed Wing-Fanning at higher frequencies over unsuccessful ones. After Wing Fanning, most of males palpated the female's body with their antennae, before attempting copulation. The overall mating success was >70%, with a rather long copula duration (254.76 ± 14.21 s). Male Wing-Fanning was lateralized on the left at population level, while antennal tapping displays were right-biased. Side-biased male displays do not differ in terms of frequency and duration of their main features. This research adds basic knowledge to the C. capitator behavioral ecology. Since rearing protocols for C. capitator are being developed, male Wing Fanning frequency may represent a useful benchmark for monitoring mate quality over time, tackling mating success reductions due to prolonged mass-rearing.
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May the wild male loose? Male Wing Fanning performances and mating success in wild and mass-reared strains of the aphid parasitoid Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae)
BioControl, 2014Co-Authors: Giovanni Benelli, Gabriella Bonsignori, Angelo Canale, Cesare Stefanini, Nickolas G. Kavallieratos, Elisa Donati, Margherita Mencattelli, Russell H. MessingAbstract:Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a pan-tropical broadly oligophagous endoparasitoid of many aphids of economic importance, including Aphis gossypii Glover and Myzus persicae (Sulzer). While the trophic interactions occurring among A. colemani and its hosts have been extensively studied, little is known about the male- and female-borne cues that guide mating dynamics. Male Wing Fanning has been found to play a key role in A. colemani courtship, as successful mounting of females without initial Wing Fanning has never been observed. In this research, we analyzed Wing Fanning performance and mating ability of males from three different strains of A. colemani : wasps commercially mass-reared on A. gossypii , wild wasps from parasitized A. gossypii, and wild wasps from parasitized Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe. Results showed that virgin females did not rely on particular male Fanning features during mate choice. Moreover, when A. colemani individuals developed on A. gossypii , no major differences were detected in courtship and mating ability between field collected and mass-reared wasps. In contrast, courtship performance and mating success varied between wild A. colemani males reared on different hosts, with those developing on A. nerii having lower quality Wing Fanning performance during the mounting attempt phase, and reduced ability to compete for females with other males reared on A. gossypii .
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First Quantification of Courtship Behavior in a Silver Fly, Leucopis palumbii (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae): Role of Visual, Olfactory and Tactile Cues
Journal of Insect Behavior, 2014Co-Authors: Giovanni Benelli, Gabriella Bonsignori, Cesare Stefanini, Alfio RaspiAbstract:Research on the courtship and mating behavior of insects is the first step toward a full understanding of their behavioral ecology. Investigating mating behavioral sequences could help to unravel mate assessment and mate choice dynamics in entomophagous organisms, adding useful information to develop behavior-based control strategies. In this research, courtship and mating displays, magnitude of male-male sexual interactions and role of female-borne cues evoking male courtship were analyzed in Leucopis palumbii Rondani (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae), a larval predator of aphids. Courtship was initiated by the male and was characterized by three main steps: chasing of the female, Wing Fanning in her close proximity and tarsal tapping with forelegs on the female’s body. Copulation may follow lasting 765 ± 211.25 s. Same-sex interactions among males (i.e. Wing Fanning followed by tarsal tapping) were also registered. Male Fanning before a successful courtship differed from Fanning performed prior to an unsuccessful approach in terms of mean frequency. Female-borne stimuli played a key role in eliciting courtship responses from males. The best male’s response was achieved when physical and chemical cues arising from the female body were contemporarily provided, alloWing synergistic visual, olfactory and tactile perception. Results contribute to understanding the role of visual, olfactory and tactile channels among sensory modalities used by aphidophagous Chamaemyiidae during sexual communication.
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Visual and Olfactory Female-Borne Cues Evoke Male Courtship in the Aphid Parasitoid Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
Journal of Insect Behavior, 2013Co-Authors: Giovanni Benelli, Giulia Giunti, Russell H. Messing, Mark G. WrightAbstract:We investigated the courtship and mating behavior of the pan-tropical polyphagous endoparasitoid Aphidius colemani Viereck. The courtship and mating displays, the magnitude of male-male sexual approaches and the role of female-borne cues evoking male courtship behavior were quantified. The sequence of events leading to copulation in this parasitoid did not differ from that found for other braconids. Females refused to copulate more than once. Same-sex courtships were observed among males and their possible role in an adaptive context is discussed. Olfactory female-borne cues played a key role in eliciting the courtship responses of males. Males were attracted by freshly dead females, but not by dead females soaked in hexane, nor by visual cues from females alone. Intense male Wing Fanning behavior was elicited by crushed abdomens of virgin females, suggesting that the female abdomen is the source of a short-distance pheromone crucial in evoking male courtship. Further studies are required to clarify the exact nature of the chemicals involved.
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male male sexual behavior in the parasitic wasp psyttalia concolor
Journal of Insect Science, 2013Co-Authors: Giovanni Benelli, Angelo CanaleAbstract:The role of male-male courtship in parasitic Hymenoptera is poorly known. A laboratory study was conducted to assess if Psyttalia concolor (Szepligeti) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) male courtship can be affected by a previous experience in courting young conspecifics of both sexes. Two experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of experience in courting young wasps on both male courtship and male-male competition behavior. Results showed that a courting experience on both sexes can modify some sexual traits in a P. concolor male, without affecting its success in mating. When approaching virgin females, a P. concolor male that had a previous courtship experience with young wasps of either sex showed shorter latency times, more Wing Fanning, and longer courtship durations with respect to the control male. The hypothesis that a previous courting experience may allow a P. concolor male to refine its courtship behavior and to enhance courtship intensity in subsequent encounters with females was discussed.
Karen M. Kester - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Evolutionary relationships of courtship songs in the parasitic wasp genus, Cotesia (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
PLOS ONE, 2019Co-Authors: Justin P. Bredlau, Karen M. KesterAbstract:Acoustic signals play an important role in premating isolation based on sexual selection within many taxa. Many male parasitic wasps produce characteristic courtship songs used by females in mate selection. In Cotesia (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae), courtship songs are generated by Wing Fanning with repetitive pulses in stereotypical patterns. Our objectives were to sample the diversity of courtship songs within Cotesia and to identify e underlying patterns of differentiation. We compared songs among 12 of ca. 80 Cotesia species in North America, including ten species that have not been recorded previously. For Cotesia congregata, we compared songs of wasps originating from six different host-foodplant sources, two of which are considered incipient species. Songs of emergent males from wild caterpillar hosts in five different families were recorded, and pattern, frequency, and duration of song elements analyzed. Principal component analysis converted the seven elements characterized into four uncorrelated components used in a hierarchical cluster analysis and grouped species by similarity of song structure. Species songs varied significantly in duration of repeating pulse and buzz elements and/or in fundamental frequency. Cluster analysis resolved similar species groups in agreement with the most recent molecular phylogeny for Cotesia spp., indicating the potential for using courtship songs as a predictor of genetic relatedness. Courtship song analysis may aid in identifying closely related cryptic species that overlap spatially, and provide insight into the evolution of this highly diverse and agriculturally important taxon.
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characterization and generation of male courtship song in cotesia congregata hymenoptera braconidae
PLOS ONE, 2013Co-Authors: Justin P. Bredlau, Karen M. Kester, Yasha Mohajer, Timothy M Cameron, Michael L FineAbstract:Background: Male parasitic wasps attract females with a courtship song produced by rapid Wing Fanning. Songs have been described for several parasitic wasp species; however, beyond association with Wing Fanning, the mechanism of sound generation has not been examined. We characterized the male courtship song of Cotesia congregata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and investigated the biomechanics of sound production. Methods and Principal Findings: Courtship songs were recorded using high-speed videography (2,000 fps) and audio recordings. The song consists of a long duration amplitude-modulated ‘‘buzz’’ followed by a series of pulsatile higher amplitude ‘‘boings,’’ each decaying into a terminal buzz followed by a short inter-boing pause while Wings are stationary. Boings have higher amplitude and lower frequency than buzz components. The lower frequency of the boing sound is due to greater Wing displacement. The power spectrum is a harmonic series dominated by Wing repetition rate ,220 Hz, but the sound waveform indicates a higher frequency resonance ,5 kHz. Sound is not generated by the Wings contacting each other, the substrate, or the abdomen. The abdomen is elevated during the first several Wing cycles of the boing, but its position is unrelated to sound amplitude. Unlike most sounds generated by volume velocity, the boing is generated at the termination of the Wing down stroke when displacement is maximal and Wing velocity is zero. Calculation indicates a low Reynolds number of ,1000. Conclusions and Significance: Acoustic pressure is proportional to velocity for typical sound sources. Our finding that the boing sound was generated at maximal Wing displacement coincident with cessation of Wing motion indicates that it is caused by acceleration of the Wing tips, consistent with a dipole source. The low Reynolds number requires a high Wing flap rate for flight and predisposes Wings of small insects for sound production.
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Characterization and generation of male courtship song in Cotesia congregata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).
Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2024Co-Authors: Justin P. Bredlau, Karen M. Kester, Timothy M Cameron, Yasha J Mohajer, Michael L FineAbstract:Male parasitic wasps attract females with a courtship song produced by rapid Wing Fanning. Songs have been described for several parasitic wasp species; however, beyond association with Wing Fanning, the mechanism of sound generation has not been examined. We characterized the male courtship song of Cotesia congregata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and investigated the biomechanics of sound production.Courtship songs were recorded using high-speed videography (2,000 fps) and audio recordings. The song consists of a long duration amplitude-modulated "buzz" followed by a series of pulsatile higher amplitude "boings," each decaying into a terminal buzz followed by a short inter-boing pause while Wings are stationary. Boings have higher amplitude and lower frequency than buzz components. The lower frequency of the boing sound is due to greater Wing displacement. The power spectrum is a harmonic series dominated by Wing repetition rate ∼220 Hz, but the sound waveform indicates a higher frequency resonance ∼5 kHz. Sound is not generated by the Wings contacting each other, the substrate, or the abdomen. The abdomen is elevated during the first several Wing cycles of the boing, but its position is unrelated to sound amplitude. Unlike most sounds generated by volume velocity, the boing is generated at the termination of the Wing down stroke when displacement is maximal and Wing velocity is zero. Calculation indicates a low Reynolds number of ∼1000.Acoustic pressure is proportional to velocity for typical sound sources. Our finding that the boing sound was generated at maximal Wing displacement coincident with cessation of Wing motion indicates that it is caused by acceleration of the Wing tips, consistent with a dipole source. The low Reynolds number requires a high Wing flap rate for flight and predisposes Wings of small insects for sound production
Fengming Yan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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behavioral response of female codling moths cydia pomonella to apple volatiles
Journal of Chemical Ecology, 1999Co-Authors: Marie Bengtsson, Fengming Yan, Peter WitzgallAbstract:Apple volatiles stimulated pheromone release, oviposition, and upwind orientation in female codling moths, Cydia pomonella. Green apples increased the percentage of virgin females calling, the duration of female calling, and advanced the onset of egg-laying in gravid females. In a tube olfactometer, both virgin and mated females were more active in the presence of apple volatiles than in clean air. They responded by walking while Wing-Fanning; mated females showed a stronger attraction response than unmated females.
