Year: 2019 | Month: June and December | Volume 7 | Issue 1 and 2
Acoustic Communication in Orthopteran and Hemipteran Insects
DOI:10.30954/2319-5169.01.2019.2
Abstract:
Animal communication is ubiquitous and a conspicuous aspect of the behavior of all the animals. Acoustic communication among animals utilizes sounds to signal information between the insects. The present study was carried out to identify the sexual receptiveness of the females towards the males. The advertisement calls of Cicadas and katydids belonging to orders Hemiptera and Orthoptera were recorded using TASCAM DR-100MK Linear PCM recorder connected to AKG D1000i directional microphones held approximately 15-30 cm away from the calling males. Sound levels of the calls were taken using TES sound level meter 1350A. Humidity and temperature were noted using digital hygrometer and thermometer respectively. Katydids produce their calling songs by rubbing their forewings together. This causes the hardened plectrum on the posterior margin of one wing to strike against the teeth of a stridulatory file on the other wing, thus producing sound. The sound producing organs in cicadas are the drum like tymbals. Though it seems like the calls are continues without any call intervals but there are minute call intervals that can be heard with carful observations. Each call consists of several pulse groups and is from 186-274 with an average of 223.5±39.534pulse groups/sec. At the level of biological species, acoustic studies have been widely and effectively used to establish the status of related populations of a wide variety of insects. In addition bioacoustics plays a major role in sexual behavior in many insects that help in mate searching, recognition and courtship.
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