Akassou Imane, Avosani Sabina, Caorsi Valentina, Verrastro Vincenzo, Ciolli Marco, Mazzoni Valerio
DICAM Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy.
Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via Mach 1, 38098 San Michele all'Adige, Italy.
Insects. 2021 Jun 28;12(7):584. doi: 10.3390/insects12070584.
Insects that communicate by vibrational signals live in a complex interactive network of communication. Most studies on insect intrasexual behavior, based on plant-borne vibrational signals, have targeted few individuals. Despite their importance, behaviors that occur within groups were often overlooked. The study of multiple individuals, when insects occur in high density could simulate the environment in which they live and provide more reliable information on their behavior. In semi-field conditions, we investigated the intrasexual behavior of the meadow spittlebug, Vibrational signals exchanged among individuals of the same sex were recorded throughout their adult stage, from late spring to early autumn, and during the day, from the morning to the evening using a laser vibrometer. Males were less active than females throughout the season and their interactions were less frequent compared to females. Intrasexual interactions were characterized by signal overlapping in both unisex groups, in addition to signal alternating only in the case of males. In conclusion, the study of signaling behavior in intrasexual groups contributed to a better understanding of social behavior. We discuss the hypothesis of a possible competitive behavior between males and cooperative behavior between females.
通过振动信号进行交流的昆虫生活在一个复杂的互动交流网络中。大多数基于植物传播的振动信号对昆虫同性行为的研究只针对少数个体。尽管群体内发生的行为很重要，但往往被忽视。当昆虫高密度出现时，对多个个体的研究可以模拟它们生活的环境，并提供关于其行为的更可靠信息。在半野外条件下，我们研究了草地沫蝉的同性行为。使用激光振动计在整个成虫阶段，从晚春到初秋，以及在白天，从早晨到晚上，记录了同性个体之间交换的振动信号。在整个季节中，雄性比雌性活动少，与雌性相比，它们之间的互动也不那么频繁。同性互动的特点是在单性群体中信号重叠，此外，信号交替仅在雄性中出现。总之，对同性群体信号行为的研究有助于更好地理解社会行为。我们讨论了雄性之间可能存在竞争行为以及雌性之间存在合作行为的假设。
