Abstract
Scorpionflies (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) are important models for studying sexual selection and mating strategies. However, much is still unknown about their behavior and natural history. Here we describe a wing-flashing behavior in a population of Panorpa debilis Westwood from central New York. Wing-flashing has been previously observed, but not described in Mecoptera. We use a combination of direct observation and video analysis in an attempt to understand the motivation behind this behavior: is wing-flashing behavior used for attraction of mates, for control of food resources, or perhaps neither? If wing-flashing is involved in mate attraction, we would expect skewed wing-flashing ratios between males and females and a high rate of wing-flashing aimed at conspecifics of the opposite sex. If the behavior is instead used for intraspecific competition for resources, we would expect a high degree of wing-flashing aimed at conspecifics of the same sex or indiscriminate of sex. We demonstrate that this behavior is non-random — and most likely competitive in nature — by showing that wing-flashing preferentially occurs near other individuals, and by comparing wing-flashing rates across males and females in a variety of situations. Both sexes used wing-flashes in response to the opposite sex, though most wing-flashes were female to female signals. Wing-flashing was even observed as a response to potentially competitive arthropods like harvestmen (Leiobunum spp.). In addition to their suitability as study organisms for mating behavior, P. debilis, may be a useful organism for studying animal communication and signaling.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abramoff MD, Magalhaes PJ, Ram SJ (2004) Image processing with image J. Biophoton Int 11:36–42
Adamo SA, Hanlon RT (1996) Do cuttlefish (Cephalopoda) signal their intentions to conspecifics during agonistic encounters? Anim Behav 52:73–81
Alcock J, Pyle WD (1979) The complex courtship behavior of Physiphora demandata (F.) (Diptera: Otitidae). Z Tierpsychol 49:352–362
Alexander RD (1961) Aggressiveness, territoriality, and sexual behavior in field crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). Behaviour 17:130–223
Aluja, M., & Norrbom, A. (Eds.). (1999). Fruit flies (Tephritidae): phylogeny and evolution of behavior. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 376–401.
Bakker K (1962) An analysis of factors which determine success in competition for food among larvae of Drosophila melanogaster. Arch Néerl Zool 14:200–281
Barth RH Jr (1964) The mating behavior of Byrsotria fumigata (Guerin) (Blattidae, Blaberinae). Behaviour 23:1–30
Biggs JD (1972) Aggressive behavior in the adult apple maggot (Diptera: Tephritidae). The Canadian Entomologist 104:349–353
Briceño RD, Ramos D, Eberhard WG (1996) Courtship behavior of male Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) in captivity. Fla Entomol 79:130–143
Burk T (1983) Behavioral ecology of mating in the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew)(Diptera: Tephritidae). Fla Entomol 66:330–344
Bush GL (1969) Mating behavior, host specificity, and the ecological significance of sibling species in frugivorous flies of the genus Rhagoletis (Diptera: Tephritidae). Am Nat 103:669–672
Byers GW (1963) The life history of Panorpa nuptialis (Mecoptera: Panorpidae). Ann Entomol Soc Am 56:142–149
Byers GW, Thornhill R (1983) Biology of the Mecoptera. Annu Rev Entomol 28:203–228
Endler JA (1992) Signals, signal conditions, and the direction of evolution. Am Nat 139:125–153
Engqvist L (2009) Should I stay or should I go? Condition- and status-dependent courtship decisions in the scorpionfly Panorpa cognata. Anim Behav 78:491–497
Engqvist L, Sauer KP (2003) Influence of nutrition on courtship and mating in the scorpionfly Panorpa cognata (Mecoptera, Insecta). Ethology 109:911–928
Ficken MS (1962) Agonistic behavior and territory in the American redstart. Auk 79:607–632
Girard MB, Elias DO, Kasumovic MM (2015) Female preference for multi-modal courtship: multiple signals are important for male mating success in peacock spiders. Proc R Soc B 282:2015–2222
Guilford T, Dawkins MS (1991) Receiver psychology and the evolution of animal signals. Anim Behav 42:1–14
Halaj J, Cady AB (2000) Diet composition and significance of earthworms as food of harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones). Am Midl Nat 143:487–491
Hartbauer M, Gepp J, Hinteregger K, Koblmüller S (2015) Diversity of wing patterns and abdomen- generated substrate sounds in 3 European scorpionfly species. Insect science 22:521–531
JMP®, Version 10 [Computer software]. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, 1989–2007. Available from http://www.jmp.com
Misof B, Liu S, Meusemann K, Peters RS, Donath A, Mayer C et al (2014) Phylogenomics resolves the timing and pattern of insect evolution. Science 346:763–767
Rupprecht R (1974) Vibrationssignale bei der Paarung von Panorpa (Mecoptera/Insecta). Experientia 30:340–341
Searcy WA, Nowicki S (2005) The evolution of animal communication: reliability and deception in signaling systems. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ
Simpson MJA (1968) The display of the Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens. Anim Behav Monogr 1:1–73
Steiner P (1929) Studien an Panorpa communis L. Z Morphol Okol Tiere 17:1–67
Thomas BT, Strahl SD (1990) Nesting behavior of sunbitterns (Eurypyga helias) in Venezuela. Condor 92:576–581
Thornhill R (1979) Male pair-formation pheromones in Panorpa scorpionflies (Mecoptera: Panorpidae). Environ Entomol 8:886–888
Thornhill R (1980) Competition and coexistence among Panorpa scorpionflies (Mecoptera: Panorpidae). Ecol Monogr 50:179–197
Thornhill R (1981) Panorpa (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) scorpionflies: systems for understanding resource-defense polygyny and alternative male reproductive efforts. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 12:355–386
Whiting MF (2002) Mecoptera is paraphyletic: multiple genes and phylogeny of Mecoptera and Siphonaptera. Zoologica Scripta 31:93–104
Wijnhoven H (2011) Notes on the biology of the unidentified invasive harvestman Leiobunum sp. (Arachnida: Opiliones). Arachnologische Mitteilungen 41:17–30
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Erika Mudrak from the Cornell Statistical Consulting Unit for her help with data analysis, along with Francoise Vermeylen and Lynn Johnson. We are also grateful to Cole Gilbert for his valuable input, and to two anonymous reviewers, whose comments improved the manuscript greatly.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Magnier, B.R., Montgomery, G.A. Novel Wing-Flashing Behavior in a Scorpionfly (Panorpa debilis) May be Competitive. J Insect Behav 30, 247–258 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-017-9613-5
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-017-9613-5