Acoustic communication in the sexual behaviour of the leafhopper, Amrasca devastans

ABSTRACT. Males of Amrasca devastans (Distant) (Homoptera, Cicadellidae) emit 'croaking' sounds in phrases of two to six pulses which are transmitted through the plant on which the animal is feeding. Females, if present on the same plant, respond to such croaks by ceasing movements and emitting their own substrate-borne 'cooing' sounds in single-pulsed phrases. These coos stimulate the males to emit their croaks more frequently, and to commence 'dancing' movements, during which they approach the female (whether she is visible or not); the sounds of the two sexes alternate with each other throughout. On reaching the female, the male emits 'snoring' sounds and stands at her side, partly in response to seeing her and partly in response to mechanical contact. Thereafter, the male emits 'pattering' sounds while raising and vibrating his wings and extending the tip of his abdomen towards the female's abdomen. Finally, the genitalia of the two sexes are interlocked for copulation, during which 'drumming' sounds occur.