Bushcricket song structure and predation by the acoustically orienting parasitoid fly Therobia leonidei (Diptera: Tachinidae: Ormiini)

Abstract Males of most bushcricket species produce acoustic advertisement signals to attract females for mating. These signals can also increase conspicuousness to predators. In the genus Poecilimon (Orthoptera: Phaneropterinae) males are attacked by the parasitoid fly Therobia leonidei (Diptera: Tachinidae: Ormiini) which locates males by their calls. In Greece T.leonidei parasitizes several Poecilimon species with different song structures: we examined whether host choice is related to song structure by comparing parasitism rates in two closely related Poecilimon species. One of these species produces monosyllabic songs, the songs of the other species being polysyllabic. The tachinid fly parasitized the polysyllabic species to a greater extent. We demonstrate in a field-experiment that this preference for the polysyllabic species does not depend on local adaptations of the fly. The most probable explanation for the preference of the fly for the polysyllabic singing species seems to be better detection of longer songs. This result is discussed in the context of male song evolution.

[1]  H. Godfray,et al.  Parasitoids: Behavioral and Evolutionary Ecology , 1993 .

[2]  R R Hoy,et al.  The evolutionary convergence of hearing in a parasitoid fly and its cricket host. , 1992, Science.

[3]  K. Heller,et al.  Notes on systematics of Greek species of Poecilimon Fischerc 1853 lOrthopterac Phaneropterinaer , 1992 .

[4]  K. Heller.  Evolution of Song Pattern in East Mediterranean Phaneropterinae: Constraints by the Communication System , 1990 .

[5]  W. Cade,et al.  Factors Affecting Calling Behaviour in Field Crickets, Teleogryllus and Gryllus (Age, Weight, Density, and Parasites) , 1984 .

[6]  T. U. Grafe,et al.  Costs and benefits of mate choice in the lek-breeding reed frog, Hyperolius marmoratus , 1997, Animal Behaviour.

[7]  G. Allen.  The biology of the phonotactic parasitoid, Homotrixa sp. (Diptera: Tachinidae), and its impact on the survival of male Sciarasaga quadrata (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) in the field , 1995 .

[8]  G. K. Morris,et al.  Bat Predation and Its Influence on Calling Behavior in Neotropical Katydids , 1987, Science.

[9]  T. Burk.  Symposium: Insect Behavioral Ecology--'81: Evolutionary Significance of Predation on Sexually Signalling Males , 1982 .

[10]  William H. Cade,et al.  Acoustically Orienting Parasitoids: Fly Phonotaxis to Cricket Song , 1975, Science.

[11]  C. Magnhagen.  Predation risk as a cost of reproduction. , 1991, Trends in ecology & evolution.

[12]  M. Ritchie.  The Tettigoniidae. Biology, Systematics and Evolution, W.J. Bailey, D.C.F. Rentz (Eds.). Springer-Verlag, Berlin (1990), xi , 1992 .

[13]  Gesang und Balz bei Feldheuschrecken der Chrothypus albomarginatus-Gruppe (Orthoptera: Acrididae) , 1986 .

[14]  W. Cade,et al.  Alternative male strategies: genetic differences in crickets. , 1981, Science.

[15]  D. A. Gray,et al.  Female house crickets, Acheta domesticus , prefer the chirps of large males , 1997, Animal Behaviour.

[16]  O. V. Helversen,et al.  Survival of a phaneropterid bush-cricket studied by a new marking technique (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae). , 1990 .

[17]  D. Otte.  Evolution of Cricket Songs , 1992 .

[18]  R. Meldola.  Sexual Selection , 1871, Nature.

[19]  J. Endler.  Signals, Signal Conditions, and the Direction of Evolution , 1992, The American Naturalist.

[20]  K. Heller.  Zur Bioakustik und Phylogenie der Gattung Poecilimon (Orthoptera, Tettigonnidae, Phaneropterinae) , 1984 .

[21]  C. Darwin.  The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex: INDEX , 1871 .

[22]  William E. Wagner.  Convergent song preferences between female field crickets and acoustically orienting parasitoid flies , 1996 .

[23]  Robert W. Matthews,et al.  Acoustic Behaviour of Insects: An Evolutionary Perspective , 1992 .

[24]  William H. Cade,et al.  Temporal patterns of parasitoid fly (Ormia ochracea) attraction to field cricket song (Gryllus integer) , 1996 .