Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic.
PLoS One. 2011;6(10):e26476. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0026476. Epub 2011 Oct 31.
Members of the subfamily Galleriinae have adapted to different selective environmental pressures by devising a unique mating process. Galleriinae males initiate mating by attracting females with either chemical or acoustic signals (or a combination of both modalities). Six compounds considered candidates for the sex pheromone have recently been identified in the wing gland extracts of Aphomia sociella males. Prior to the present study, acoustic communication had not been investigated. Signals mediating female attraction were likewise unknown.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Observations of A. sociella mating behaviour and recordings of male acoustic signals confirmed that males initiate the mating process. During calling behaviour (stationary wing fanning and pheromone release), males disperse pheromone from their wing glands. When a female approaches, males cease calling and begin to produce ultrasonic songs as part of the courtship behaviour. Replaying of recorded courting songs to virgin females and a comparison of the mating efficiency of intact males with males lacking tegullae proved that male ultrasonic signals stimulate females to accept mating. Greenhouse experiments with isolated pheromone glands confirmed that the male sex pheromone mediates long-range female attraction.
CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Female attraction in A. sociella is chemically mediated, but ultrasonic communication is also employed during courtship. Male ultrasonic songs stimulate female sexual display and significantly affect mating efficiency. Considerable inter-individual differences in song structure exist. These could play a role in female mate selection provided that the female's ear is able to discern them. The A. sociella mating strategy described above is unique within the subfamily Galleriinae.
Galleriinae 亚科的成员通过设计独特的交配过程来适应不同的选择性环境压力。Galleriinae 雄虫通过化学或声学信号（或两者结合）吸引雌虫来启动交配。最近在 Aphomia sociella 雄虫的翅腺提取物中鉴定出了六种被认为是性信息素候选物的化合物。在本研究之前，尚未研究过声学通讯。介导雌性吸引力的信号也未知。
方法/主要发现：观察 A. sociella 的交配行为和记录雄性声学信号证实，雄性启动交配过程。在鸣叫行为（静止的翅扇动和信息素释放）期间，雄性从翅腺中分散信息素。当雌性接近时，雄性停止鸣叫，并开始产生作为求偶行为一部分的超声波歌曲。向处女雌虫播放记录的求爱歌曲并比较完整雄虫与缺乏翅盖雄虫的交配效率证明，雄性超声波信号刺激雌虫接受交配。用分离的信息素腺体进行温室实验证实，雄性性信息素介导远距离的雌性吸引力。
结论/意义：A. sociella 中的雌性吸引力是化学介导的，但在求偶过程中也使用了超声波通讯。雄性超声波歌曲刺激雌性的性展示，并显著影响交配效率。歌曲结构存在相当大的个体间差异。如果雌虫的耳朵能够分辨出来，这些差异可能在雌虫的配偶选择中发挥作用。上述 A. sociella 交配策略在 Galleriinae 亚科中是独特的。
