Title: Stridulation by Jadera haematoloma (Hemiptera: Rhopalidae): Production mechanism and associated behaviors Authors
Submitted to: Annals of the Entomological Society of America
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: September 28, 2011
Publication Date: January 1, 2012
Citation: Zych, A.F., Mankin, R.W., Gillooly, J.F., Foreman, E.G. 2012. Stridulation by Jadera haematoloma (Hemiptera: Rhopalidae): Production mechanism and associated behaviors. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 105:118-127. Interpretive Summary: Stink bugs recently grown in importance now that transgenic-corn and cotton have enabled reductions in the use of pesticides on many crops. Scientists at the USDA-ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL, and the University of Florida have cooperated to identify the sound-producing mechanism and characterize the communications of an insect belonging to a group of stink bugs that are pests of cotton and vegetables. Alternative methods of stink bug control are being sought to reduce losses without environmental damage. A better understanding of the mechanisms and evolution of stink bug vibrational and acoustical communication may lead to new methods of interfering with mating or social interactions.
Technical Abstract: The Hemiptera displays a notable diversity of vibratory communication signals across its various families. Here we describe the substrate and airborne vibrations (sounds), the mechanism of production, and associated behaviors of Jadera haematoloma Herrich-Schaeffer, a member of the family, Rhopalidae. Adult males and females both produce short, stereotyped sound bursts by anterior-posterior movement of abdominal tergites I and II against a stridulitrum located on the ventral surface of the metathoracic wing. Sound bursts are produced by a single adult male or female when physically touched by another adult, and are strongly associated with being crawled on by the approaching individual, but are not produced in response to contact with other arthropods or when pinched with forceps. The propensity to produce sounds when crawled upon decreases during the mating season. These sound bursts by J. haematoloma are likely communication signals. Rhopalidae has been significantly absent from the vibratory communication literature until now. Although the sounds are produced using a mechanism common to vibratory communication systems in closely related Heteropteran Hemiptera, the sounds in these other species function primarily in courtship or in mother-daughter interactions, which suggests that the functions of stridulation and the behavioral contexts have diversified in the Heteroptera.