Original paper
Vibrational communication and evidence for vibrational behavioural manipulation of the tomato potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli
Avosani, Sabina; Sullivan, Thomas E.S.; Ciolli, Marco; Mazzoni, Valerio; Suckling, David Maxwell
Entomologia Generalis Volume 40 Number 4 (2020), p. 351 - 363
published: Dec 17, 2020
published online: Sep 21, 2020
manuscript accepted: May 11, 2020
final revised version received: Apr 20, 2020
manuscript revision requested: Apr 5, 2020
manuscript received: Dec 24, 2019
DOI: 10.1127/entomologia/2020/0984
Open Access (paper may be downloaded free of charge)
Abstract
Vibrational pest management techniques involve the manipulation of the mating behaviour of the target species. Development of such techniques require a deep understanding of the pair formation process. Two types of bioassays were conducted to determine whether a vibrational disruptive approach could be used for Bactericera cockerelli. First, we conducted trials with either single individuals or pairs of a male and a female to ascertain whether B. cockerelli uses vibrational signals to achieve mating. Second, playback trials were conducted using two different female signals to manipulate the behaviour of males. Signals emitted during the trials were recorded using a laser vibrometer from the surface of a leaf where either single individuals or pairs of B. cockerelli were released. We described the communication phases that led to mating and the associated male and female signals. Pair formation started with a male call followed by a female response, which established a vibrational duet. During the female reply, the male searched for the female without emitting vibrational signals. Mating could be achieved if the male could maintain the female replies and reach her. In the playback trials, two different female playbacks attracted males to the signal source. Furthermore, males stimulated with female playbacks spent more time near the source of the signal than insects in the silent control group. We concluded that the B. cockerelli mating behaviour relies on vibrational signals and is potentially susceptible to vibrational manipulation, thus a future vibrational management technique could be developed to monitor or control this species.
Keywords
vibrational pest control • behaviour • tomato potato psyllid • (Hemiptera: Triozidae) • pair formation