视觉能触发沟渠豹蛛雄蛛对雌蛛的求偶行为

以沟渠豹蛛Pardosa laura成熟雄蛛的求偶延迟时间和触肢伸展次数作为参数,观察研究了雄蛛通过视觉与处女雌蛛拖丝单独和共同诱导情况下的求偶反应,发现视觉是触发雄蛛求偶行为的主要信号,而雌蛛的拖丝则不能单独激发雄蛛的求偶行为,表明雄蛛能够通过视觉接受雌蛛的信号。在此基础上,又测定了雄蛛通过视觉接受亚成体雌蛛、处女雌蛛和交配未产卵雌蛛信号时的求偶反应,发现雄蛛对处女雌蛛和交配未产卵雌蛛的求偶动作次数显著多于亚成体雌蛛,表明雄蛛能够通过视觉区分雌蛛是否成熟,但是仅依靠视觉无法判断雌蛛是否已经交配。本实验表明视觉在沟渠豹蛛雄蛛对雌蛛识别过程中起着非常重要的作用,再次证实狼蛛的视觉比较发达。     

普氏原羚的求偶交配行为

作者采用所有事件取样法、扫描取样法和目标取样法研究分析了元者分布区内普氏原羚(Procapraprzewalskii) 的求偶交配行为, 分析了放牧活动对普氏原羚求偶、交配行为的影响。我们共记录到28 种发情、求偶及交配行为。雄性普氏原羚的求偶、交配过程分为4 个阶段。第一阶段为雄羚对雌羚的试探接近阶段。雌羚对雄羚的试探行为有两种反应: 雌羚走开拒绝雄羚的求偶; 或者雌羚叉开后腿静立并不停摆尾以示接受雄羚,有时雌羚还会主动靠近雄羚。如果雌羚接受雄羚的求偶, 雄羚便会进入求偶表演的第二阶段: 雄羚开始以直立、直立行走或碎步移动的方式靠近雌羚。第三个阶段是爬胯、交配阶段。雄羚的插入、射精过程在很短时间(约1-2 s) 内完成。最后一个阶段是交配后雄羚对配偶的看守阶段。普氏原羚交配制度为求偶场交配制度, 交配模式为无锁结、多次插入、无抽动、多次射精, 分别属于Dewsbury和Dixson交配行为模式分类系统的第13 种类型和第14种类型。人类放牧对普氏原羚繁殖行为具有明显的影响。在本研究中共记录了1 009 次爬胯行为, 这些爬胯行为多发生在家畜到达求偶场以前与家畜离开求偶场后30min 。     

星豹蛛求偶和交配行为

以星豹蛛(Pardosa astrigera)为研究对象,在室内对其求偶和交配行为进行了描述。雄蛛"俯卧撑"式动作(push-up)在求偶中具重要作用。交配初期,两侧触肢交替插入;随交配进行,单侧触肢连续插入3~5次后才换另一侧触肢插入,触肢每插入一次,基血囊膨大多次。完整交配一次雄蛛触肢器平均插入次数为29·625。交配前求偶时间、交配持续时间和有效交配时间分别平均为6min、32min25s和11min11s。星豹蛛雄蛛可进行多次交配,而雌蛛一般为单次交配。雌蛛交配状态(是否已经交配)影响其同类相食行为,已交配雌蛛对雄蛛同类相食率显著高于未交配雌蛛对雄蛛同类相食率。     

光强度对棉铃虫交配行为的影响

【目的】为阐明光强度对棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)交配行为的影响。【方法】本实验设置4个光照强度(0,0.5,5.0和50.0 lx),观察记录不同光照强度下棉铃虫雌蛾的求偶行为;分别通过单个腺体性信息素提取法和解剖雌虫受精囊的方式,检测不同光照强度下棉铃虫的雌蛾性信息素滴度和交配率。【结果】在强光(50.0 lx)下,棉铃虫雌蛾求偶起始时间最长,求偶持续时间最短,求偶次数最少,雌蛾性信息素滴度始终处于较低水平,交配率也属于最低。在微光(0.5 lx)下,雌蛾求偶起始时间最短,求偶持续时间最长,求偶次数最多;雌蛾性信息素始终处于较低水平,但暗期后段求偶率高达40%。【结论】强光(50.0 lx)可以抑制棉铃虫雌蛾的求偶行为、性信息素的合成及交配;微光(0.5 lx)可以促进棉铃虫雌蛾的求偶行为;相对黑暗环境(0 lx),微光(0.5 lx)还可以促进棉铃虫快速(1 h)完成交配,微光(0.5 lx)对棉铃虫的交配行为具有重要意义;求偶和性信息素的合成没有必然联系。本研究可为探讨光对夜蛾交配行为的影响提供一定的理论基础,也可为利用物理、化学通讯信息调控夜蛾行为提供一定的参考。     

条背萤的形态和生物学研究

首次在中国大陆发现水栖萤火虫条背萤Luciola substriata。形态观察发现,条背萤成虫橙黄色, 鞘翅末端灰黑色;发光器均为白色,雄虫发光器位于第5、6腹节,位于第5腹节的发光器呈带状,第6腹节的发光器呈“V”字形;雌虫的发光器呈带状,位于第5腹节;卵椭圆形,橙黄色。幼虫有两种形态,1～2龄具有7对呼吸鳃,3～6龄幼虫无呼吸鳃。幼虫具有一对发光器,位于第7腹节腹面;初蛹期仍保留幼虫形态的发光器,后呈现成虫的发光器,两种形态的发光器并存直至羽化。对条背萤生活史及习性调查发现,条背萤生活在水草较多的池塘、湖泊和流速缓慢的河流中。该虫1年发生1代,以幼虫在水中越冬,5月初老熟幼虫开始上岸化蛹。在25℃下,条背萤预蛹期平均为6.17天,蛹期平均为4.43天。成虫5月上旬至9月中旬发生。日落后的1 h内是条背萤成虫闪光求偶的最盛期。卵期平均12.5天。幼虫的猎物为静水椎实螺Lymnaea stagnalis,凸旋螺Gyraulus conwexiusculus等,天敌为克氏原螯虾Procambarus clarkii、中华绒毛蟹Eriocheir sinensis、草鱼Ctenopharyngodonidellus等。利用光谱仪对条背萤的发光光谱进行测定发现,条背萤的萤光光谱为425～603 nm,峰值为504 nm,颜色为黄绿混合色。     

云南窗萤的形态学及其生物学特性（鞘翅目：萤科）

研究了云南窗萤卵到成虫不同发育阶段的形态学。根据野外观察和实验室饲养结果,记录了其生物学特性。卵、幼虫、蛹和雌成虫可发弱光,但雄成虫仅在受刺激时才发出更弱的光,云南窗萤可归属于昼行性萤火虫,而化学信号则是其雌雄在求偶时的主要识别方式。     

猫蚤的交配习性及雄蚤对雌蚤提取物的反应

在人工饲喂系统上研究了猫蚤的交配习性及雄蚤对雌蚤化学提取物的反应,结果表明,当5雌1雄在饲养盒内时,该雄虫可与其他雌虫进行多次交配,连续8小时内交配达48次,交配时间平均持续6．6分钟,两次交配的间隔时间平均为2．5分钟,当1雌5雄时,交配时间平均持续11．1分钟,交配间隔时间为12．1分钟,连续7小时内,该雌虫与雄虫交配27次,新羽化的雌雄虫吸血前不能交配,当把用雌虫提取物处理过的黑色滤纸片放进只有雄虫的饲养盒时,雄虫接触纸片的次数及雄－雄交配企图明显增加。     

竹笋基夜蛾的求偶及交配行为

在光周期14 L:10 D、温度(25±1)℃、相对湿度(60±10)％的室内条件下,研究了竹笋基夜蛾的求偶、交配行为,以及雄蛾对雌蛾腺体提取物的EAG反应.结果表明:竹笋基夜蛾求偶及交配行为仅发生在暗期.雌蛾羽化当天便可求偶,第2日雌蛾求偶率达最高;雌蛾进入暗期0～4h后开始求偶,5～7h求偶率达最高,暗期结束前1～2.5h终止;求偶的起始时间随着日龄的增加逐渐提前,1～4日龄雌蛾求偶的次数及持续时间随着日龄的增加而上升,5日龄则下降;雌蛾求偶高峰及停止求偶的时间随日龄的增加逐渐提前.成虫羽化当日便可交配,第2日达到交配高峰,5日后停止交配;雌蛾进入暗期5.5～7.0 h达到交配高峰,交配高峰出现的时间随日龄的增加而提前;随日龄的增加,交配起始时间逐渐提前,而交配持续时间逐渐缩短;增大雌雄比,竹笋基夜蛾交配起始时间提前,交配持续时间缩短,交配率显著提高.竹笋基夜蛾雄虫对2日龄处于求偶期雌虫的性腺体粗提物有显著的EAG反应.     

胸窗萤的生殖习性

研究胸窗萤Pyrocoelia pectoralis Olivier雌、雄成虫生殖系统、交配和产卵行为。描述雌雄成虫在求偶过程中的多种行为:寻找、竞争、抱对、交配、受精。雌雄交配时间可持续(82.5±34.8)min(n=15),雌雄均有多次交配现象。雌虫羽化后可立即交配产卵。在(25±2)℃室温下,雌虫寿命8.87±2.06d(n=30),雌萤平均产卵量为72.03±34.38粒(n=30),产卵量与雌虫体重呈正相关关系(y=235.28x-20.38,R2=0.7283,df=43,P<0.01);而产卵日龄与每日产出率呈指数函数关系(y=1.5339e-0.9148x,R2=0.9987,df=5,P<0.01)。因子分析结果显示,影响雌虫生殖力的因子可以归为外部形态因子和内在生理因子。     

斑翅果蝇求偶行为的研究

【目的】明确斑翅果蝇Drosophilasuzuki求偶行为的特征及过程、视觉因素与信息素粗提物在求偶行为中的作用。【方法】在室内条件下[温度（24±1）℃、相对湿度65%±5%,光周期14L∶10D],通过一系列的行为实验观察斑翅果蝇的求偶行为特征及过程。【结果】雄虫的求偶特征为当雌雄虫相遇前或相遇时,雌虫腹部末端翘起,雄虫转向追逐雌虫且翅膀展开;当雌虫静止时,雄虫在雌虫前方展开翅膀并伴随翅膀振动,之后雄虫绕到雌虫侧面,使用前足触碰雌虫并很快返回雌虫前方展开翅膀,随后绕到雌虫尾部弯曲腹部试图进行交配。3日龄雌虫的求偶行为次数最多,为（127.4±10.0）次,且求偶高峰期出现在进入光照期后的3-4 h时段内,为（59.2±5.4）次。与单一因素相比,未交配雌虫卵巢粗提物与死亡虫体共同作用时能够显著激发雄虫的求偶行为。进一步观察结果显示,卵巢粗提物对斑翅果蝇未交配雄虫具有显著的引诱效果,但仅有卵巢粗提物出现时并不能显著增强雄虫求偶行为。【结论】能引起斑翅果蝇雄虫求偶的化学物质（性信息素）存在斑翅果蝇雌虫卵巢中,视觉因素和性信息素联合作用才能显著增强雄虫的求偶行为。     

Male courtship signals and female signal assessment in Photinus greeni fireflies

The evolutionary dynamic of courtship signaling systems is drivenby the interaction between male trait distributions and femalepreferences. This interaction is complex because females maychoose mates based on multiple components of male signals, andfemale preference functions may vary depending on mate availability,female reproductive state, and environmental conditions. InPhotinus fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae), flying males emitbioluminescent flash signals to locate sedentary females, whichreply selectively to attractive male flash signals with theirown response flash. In this study, we first examined temporalvariation in the paired-pulse flash patterns produced by Photinusgreeni males in the field and found significant among-male variation(70% of total variation) in interpulse intervals (IPIs). Therewas no significant relationship between male IPI and spermatophoresize, suggesting that P. greeni male courtship signals do notprovide females with reliable indicators of male material resources.In laboratory playback experiments, we presented P. greeni femaleswith simulated flash signals to assess how IPI and pulse durationindependently affected the likelihood of female flash response.We also examined the effects of female body mass and time duringthe mating season on female preference functions, hypothesizingthat females would be less discriminating when they were heavier(more fecund) and when mate availability declined. We foundthat P. greeni females discriminated among signals within theirspecies' range based primarily on flash pattern IPI. Neitherthe time during the mating season nor female weight alteredfemale preference functions for IPI, although season did influencefemale response to pulse duration. These results reveal thatP. greeni females discriminate among conspecific males basedprimarily on male IPIs, the same signal character previouslyshown to be important for firefly species recognition. Fieldplayback experiments indicated that female responsiveness peakednear the average IPI given by males at different ambient temperatures,suggesting that fireflies exhibit temperature coupling similarto that seen in many acoustically signaling animals.     

Effects of Light Intensity on the Flight Behaviour of Adult <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tirumala limniace</Emphasis> (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Danainae)

Light intensity significantly affects insect flight behaviour. Mating of butterflies is significantly associated with flight frequency. However, no research has elucidated the effects of light intensity on butterfly flight. Thus, a clear understanding of the effects of light intensity on flight has significant theoretical implications for the cultivation and utilization of butterflies. We observed the flight behaviour of adult Tirumala limniace (Cramer) exposed to light intensities from 243 to 2240 lx and measured the frequency of flight, take-off rhythm, thoracic temperature excess (△T) when perching and flying, and the tendency for thoracic temperature to increase. Results showed that high-intensity light significantly increased flight activity, and males were more active than females under similar light intensities; strong light (1280–2240 lx) resulted in female and male butterflies taking flight earlier compared with weak light (243–864 lx); and a similar pattern was observed for flight duration, with flights by males being significantly longer than those by females at 864–2240 lx; △T of adults flying in strong light was significantly higher than in weak light, whereas the thoracic temperature of perching adults was similar to the air temperature. Compared with other light intensities, the equilibrium thoracic temperature of adults exposed to 2240 lx was higher, and the time to reach it was shorter; in addition, the △T and rate of thoracic temperature increase were higher and achieved more quickly, respectively. Thus, of the 243–2240 lx range, 2240 lx was the most optimal light intensity for adult T. limniace flight and captive rearing.     

Spontaneous flash communication of females in an Asian firefly

Fireflies are well known for the use of bioluminescence for sexual communication. In species using flash signals for pair formation, species and sexual identity are conferred by flash timing parameters such as flash duration, flash interval, flash number, and response delay. In dialog fireflies in North America, the male is the advertiser and the female is the responder. In these species, the male flash signal parameter varies depending on species, but the female flash signal parameter is limited only to response delay. However, in fireflies other than dialog fireflies, sexual flash communication is not well studied. Although many female-advertisement-like fireflies are reported, we have no confirmed case of sexual communication in a female-advertisement species. Here, we report the sexual flash communication of an Asian firefly, Luciola (Hotaria) parvula, in which the female flashes spontaneously. By using an electronic firefly, we confirm experimentally that males are specifically attracted to flashes with a female-specific flash duration. This is the first experimental report of sexual communication of a female advertiser in firefly communication. In this species, females call males usually with spontaneous flashes unlike dialog fireflies.     

Flash signals, nuptial gifts and female preference in photinus fireflies

The evolution of male courtship signals such as the bioluminescentflashes of fireflies may be shaped, at least in part, by femalepreference for particular characteristics of the male signal.These female preferences for male courtship signals may ariseas a result of the benefits of choosing males with particulartraits. One possible benefit of mate choice occurs if femalescan use male courtship signals as an honest indicator of malenutritional contributions at mating, nuptial gifts. This paperreviews female preference for male flash characteristics inPhotinus fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae), and the potentialfor females to use male flash characteristics to predict nuptialgift quality. In Photinus firefly species with single pulseflashes females preferentially respond to flashes of greaterintensity and duration. Male Photinus provide a nuptial giftto females at mating in the form of a spermatophore and flashduration serves as a good predictor of spermatophore mass formales collected early in the season. However, Photinus firefliesdo not feed as adults, so spermatophore mass decreases withsubsequent matings. In response, nutrient-limited females maystop preferentially responding to longer duration flashes, increasingtheir overall responsiveness later in the mating season as theyforage for spermatophores. Therefore, the evolution of malecourtship signals in Photinus fireflies is the product not onlyof female preference for male flash characteristics, but alsothe costs and benefits of female choice that shape these preferences.     

Flash signal evolution in Photinus fireflies: Character displacement and signal exploitation in a visual communication system

Animal communication is an intriguing topic in evolutionary biology. In this comprehensive study of visual signal evolution, we used a phylogenetic approach to study the evolution of the flash communication system of North American fireflies. The North American firefly genus Photinus contains 35 described species with simple ON–OFF visual signals, and information on habitat types, sympatric congeners, and predators. This makes them an ideal study system to test hypotheses on the evolution of male and female visual signal traits. Our analysis of 34 Photinus species suggests two temporal pattern generators: one for flash duration and one for flash intervals. Reproductive character displacement was a main factor for signal divergence in male flash duration among sympatric Photinus species. Male flash pattern intervals (i.e., the duration of the dark periods between signals) were positively correlated with the number of sympatric Photuris fireflies, which include predators of Photinus. Females of different Photinus species differ in their response preferences to male traits. As in other communication systems, firefly male sexual signals seem to be a compromise between optimizing mating success (sexual selection) and minimizing predation risk (natural selection). An integrative model for Photinus signal evolution is proposed.     

Flash communication between the sexes of the firefly, Photuris lucicrescens

ABSTRACT. The courtship signal of the male firefly, Photuris lucicrescens Barber (Coleoptera, Lampyridae), is a brilliant crescendo flash which grows in intensity, reaches a peak and abruptly terminates. It was found to be triggered by a long neural burst from the brain. Males and females produce weak, twinkling flashes which induce male crescendo flashes. Female responses were triggered by a slowly rising intensity, and female response latency is therefore variable. Male and female P.lucicrescens fireflies produce two different types of flashes and both these flashes play an integral part in their courtship communication.     

Role of interflash intervals in a firefly courtship (Photinus macdermotti)

The flash code of Photinus macdermotti fireflies has been measured over a temperature range of 16 to 25°C. The code changes in characteristics fashion during different phases of firefly courtship. Males produce rhythmic patrolling flashes while flying, and when answered, shift to courtship flash pairs of significantly shorter interval. Females will answer some consecutive patrolling flashes and normally respond after the second flash of each male courtship pair. A possible behavioural role for the shifting of male patrolling and courtship flash intervals and for the female's response patterns is proposed.     

Temporal processing of vibratory communication signals at the level of ascending interneurons in Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

During mating, males and females of N. viridula (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) produce sex- and species-specific calling and courtship substrate-borne vibratory signals, grouped into songs. Recognition and localization of these signals are fundamental for successful mating. The recognition is mainly based on the temporal pattern, i.e. the amplitude modulation, while the frequency spectrum of the signals usually only plays a minor role. We examined the temporal selectivity for vibratory signals in four types of ascending vibratory interneurons in N. viridula. Using intracellular recording and labelling technique, we analyzed the neurons' responses to 30 pulse duration/interval duration (PD/ID) combinations. Two response arrays were created for each neuron type, showing the intensity of the responses either as time-averaged spike counts or as peak instantaneous spike rates. The mean spike rate response arrays showed preference of the neurons for short PDs (below 600 ms) and no selectivity towards interval duration; while the peak spike rate response arrays exhibited either short PD/long ID selectivity or no selectivity at all. The long PD/short ID combinations elicited the weakest responses in all neurons tested. No response arrays showed the receiver preference for either constant period or duty cycle. The vibratory song pattern selectivity matched the PD of N. viridula male vibratory signals, thus pointing to temporal filtering for the conspecific vibratory signals already at level of the ascending interneurons. In some neurons the responses elicited by the vibratory stimuli were followed by distinct, regular oscillations of the membrane potential. The distance between the oscillation peaks matched the temporal structure of the male calling song, indicating a possible resonance based mechanism for signal recognition.     

Assessing Condition-dependence of Male Flash Signals in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Photinus</Emphasis> Fireflies

Females often show a preference for exaggerated male sexual traits or courtship behaviors. Such preferences can benefit females if trait expression is correlated with male genetic quality or phenotypic condition. Previous studies of several Photinus fireflies have revealed considerable intraspecific variation in the bioluminescent courtship signals emitted by males, and have also demonstrated that females prefer more conspicuous male signals. Thus, females might gain information about male phenotypic quality if courtship signals reflect male condition. We examined possible condition-dependence of Photinus male courtship signals using two complementary approaches. First we experimentally manipulated male mating status, which is expected to affect male condition by depleting resources required for nuptial gift formation, and looked at how individual male flash signals changed with mating status and over time. We used an additional approach to assess condition-dependence by examining whether a relationship exists between flash signal parameters and measures of male condition and body shape. We found that the pulse rate of P. greeni courtship signals was not altered by male mating status or age, and that the pulse duration of P. ignitus signals was also not affected by male mating status. In P. pyralis fireflies, males showed a non-significant trend toward reduced signal pulse duration with age. When we examined the relationship between male flash signals and condition measures, we found no effect of male condition or body shape on courtship signals in P. greeni or P. ignitus; in P. pyralis, males with wider body shapes produced longer duration flash signals. On the other hand, we found no evidence in P. pyralis that condition predicted flash duration. Taken together, these results indicate that Photinus males’ flash signals do not reflect adult male condition, and suggest that females are unlikely to use courtship signals as an indicator of male phenotypic quality.