Stability of dyadic dominance status and recognition of the opponent in male crickets Gryllus bimaculatus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae).

In dyads of adult male Gryllus bimaculatus, a dominance relationship is established at the first agonistic interaction between the two insects. The comparison of the aggressive behaviour displayed by adult males shows that field crickets act in an identical manner when confronted with an unfamiliar opponent or with one already encountered in a different environment. In contrast, analysis of five successive conflicts in a given environment shows that the dynamics of the interactions varies according to whether the opponents are always the same or one is changed at each encounter. The conflicts are solved more rapidly when the interactions involve the same opponents.