Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Male courtship ultrasound produced by mesothoracic tymbal organs in the yellow peach moth Conogethes punctiferalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

  • Original Research Paper
  • Published:
Applied Entomology and Zoology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Insect sound-producing apparatuses are mostly classified into two types: file–scraper and tymbal. Structures and locations of these organs are conserved in some phylogenetic groups, e.g., crickets, grasshoppers, and cicadas. However, moths have evolved diversified sound-producing organs, such as wing castanets and proboscis, in addition to the file–scraper and tymbal, in each species. Here we demonstrate that the yellow peach moth Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) has developed mesothoracic tymbal organs never reported so far in insects. Tymbals are male specific and used for generating ultrasonic clicks in mating. We found eight to nine striae on the smooth surface of the tymbal membrane, suggesting the production of several clicks by a single buckle of the membrane in association with contraction/relaxation of the mesothoracic muscles. Acoustic data from click sequences support the idea that the series is generated by side-to-side asynchrony with an active/passive half cycle by an inward/outward buckle, and thus in click group (pulse) production, males emit 28 clicks with the right and left tymbals. The click-producing mechanism is similar, but not homologous, to those of other clicking species in five moth families. Thus, moths have acquired tymbal organs through independent and convergent evolution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bailey WJ (1978) Resonant wing systems in the Australian whistling moth Hecatesia (Agarasidae, Lepidoptera). Nature 272:444–446

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker TC, Cardé RT (1979) Courtship behavior of the oriental fruit moth (Graphora molesta): experimental analysis and consideration of the role of sexual selection in the evolution of courtship pheromones in the Lepidoptera. Ann Entomol Soc Am 72:173–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennet-Clark HC (1999) Resonators in insect sound production: how insects produce loud pure-tone songs. J Exp Biol 202:3347–3357

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bennet-Clark HC (2003) Wing resonances in the Australian field cricket Teleogryllus oceanicus. J Exp Biol 206:1479–1496

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Birch MC, Poppy GM, Baker TC (1990) Scents and eversible scent structures of male moths. Annu Rev Entomol 35:25–58

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blest AD, Collett TS, Pye JD (1963) The generation of ultrasonic signals by a New World arctiid moth. Proc Roy Soc Lond B 158:196–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conner WE (1987) Ultrasound: its role in the courtship of the arctiid moth, Cycnia tenera. Experientia 43:1029–1031

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conner WE (1999) ‘Un chant d’appel amoureux’: acoustic communication in moths. J Exp Biol 202:1711–1723

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corcoran AJ, Barber JR, Conner WE (2009) Tiger moth jams bat sonar. Science 325:325–327

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dumortier B (1963) Morphology and sound emission apparatus in Arthropoda. In: Busnel RG (ed) Acoustic behaviour of animals. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 277–345

    Google Scholar 

  • Field LH (1993) Observations on stridulatory, agonistic, and mating behaviour of Hemideina ricta (Stenopelmatidae: Orthoptera), the rare Banks Peninsula weta. N Z Entomol 16:68–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fullard JH, Heller B (1990) Functional organization of the arctiid moth tymbal (Insecta, Lepidoptera). J Morphol 204:57–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gerhardt HC, Huber F (2002) Acoustic communication in insects and anurans. University of Chicago Press, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Gwynne DT, Edwards ED (1986) Ultrasound production by genital stridulation in Syntonarcha iriastis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae): long distance signalling by male moths? Zool J Linn Soc 88:363–376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heller K-G, Achmann R (1993) The ultrasonic song of the moth Amyna natalis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Acontiinae). Bioacoustics 5:89–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heller K-G, Krahe R (1994) Sound production and hearing in the pyralid moth Symmoracma minoralis. J Exp Biol 187:101–111

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jang Y, Greenfield MD (1996) Ultrasonic communication and sexual selection in wax moths: female choice based on energy and asynchrony of male signals. Anim Behav 51:1095–1106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaneko J (1978) Abdominal constriction in the copulated female of yellow peach moth, Dichocrocis punctiferalis Guenée (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Appl Entomol Zool 13:131–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Konno Y (1986) Time-lag between sex pheromone content and the calling behavior in the yellow peach moth, Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Appl Entomol Zool 21:622–624

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Konno Y, Honda H, Matsumoto Y (1980) Observations on the mating behavior and bioassay for the sex pheromone of the yellow peach moth, Dichocrocis punctiferalis Guenée (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Appl Entomol Zool 15:321–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Montealegre-Z F, Morris GK, Mason AC (2006) Generation of extreme ultrasonics in rainforest katydids. J Exp Biol 209:4923–4937

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nakano R, Skals N, Takanashi T, Surlykke A, Koike T, Yoshida K, Maruyama H, Tatsuki S, Ishikawa Y (2008) Moths produce extremely quiet ultrasonic courtship songs by rubbing specialized scales. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 105:11812–11817

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakano R, Takanashi T, Fujii T, Skals N, Surlykke A, Ishikawa Y (2009) Moths are not silent, but whisper ultrasonic courtship songs. J Exp Biol 212:4072–4078

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakano R, Takanashi T, Skals N, Surlykke A, Ishikawa Y (2010a) To females of a noctuid moth, male courtship songs are nothing more than bat echolocation calls. Biol Lett 6:582–584

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nakano R, Takanashi T, Skals N, Surlykke A, Ishikawa Y (2010b) Ultrasonic courtship songs of male Asian corn borer moths assist copulation attempts by making the females motionless. Physiol Entomol 35:76–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakano R, Takanashi T, Ihara F, Mishiro K, Toyama M, Ishikawa Y (2012) Ultrasonic courtship song of the yellow peach moth, Conogethes punctiferalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Appl Entomol Zool. doi:10.1007/s13355-012-0092-z

  • Pringle JWS (1954) A physiological analysis of cicada song. J Exp Biol 31:525–560

    Google Scholar 

  • Ratcliffe JM, Nydam ML (2008) Multimodal warning signals for a multiple predator world. Nature 455:96–99

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R Development Core Team (2010) R: a language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna. http://www.r-project.org/

  • Sanderford MV, Conner WE (1995) Acoustic courtship communication in Syntomeida epilais Wlk. (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae, Ctenuchinae). J Insect Behav 8:19–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simmons RB, Conner WE (1996) Ultrasonic signals in the defense and courtship of Euchaetes egle Drury and E. bolteri Stretch (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). J Insect Behav 9:909–919

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skals N, Surlykke A (1999) Sound production by abdominal tymbal organs in two moth species: the green silver-line and the scarce silver-line (Noctuoidea: Nolidae: Chloephorinae). J Exp Biol 202:2937–2949

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spangler HG (1985) Sound production and communication by the greater wax moth (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Ann Entomol Soc Am 78:54–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Spangler HG (1986) Functional and temporal analysis of sound production in Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). J Comp Physiol A 159:751–756

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spangler HG (1987) Ultrasonic communication in Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). J Stored Prod Res 23:203–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spangler HG (1988) Moth hearing, defense and communication. Annu Rev Entomol 33:59–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spangler HG, Takessian A (1986) Further observations on sound production by the lesser wax moth, Achroia grisella (F.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). J Kansas Entomol Soc 59:555–557

    Google Scholar 

  • Spangler HG, Greenfield MD, Takessian A (1984) Ultrasonic mate calling in the lesser wax moth. Physiol Entomol 9:87–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Surlykke A, Gogala M (1986) Stridulation and hearing in the noctuid moth Thecophora fovea (Tr.). J Comp Physiol A 159:267–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takanashi T, Nakano R, Surlykke A, Tatsuta H, Tabata J, Ishikawa Y, Skals N (2010) Variation in courtship ultrasounds of three Ostrinia moths with different sex pheromones. PLoS ONE 5:e13144

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Verhoeven KJF, Simonsen KL, McIntyre LM (2005) Implementing false discovery rate control: increasing your power. Oikos 108:643–647

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • von Helversen D, von Helversen O (1997) Recognition of sex in the acoustic communication of the grasshopper Chorthippus biguttulus (Orthoptera, Acrididae). J Comp Physiol A 180:373–386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young D, Bennet-Clark HC (1995) The role of the tymbal in cicada sound production. J Exp Biol 198:1001–1019

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank N. Yanagida (NARO Institute of Fruit Tree Science) for rearing insects, and S. Komazaki and I. Adachi (NARO Institute of Fruit Tree Science) for helpful comments on this study. This study was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (R.N., #23780053).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Breeding and Pest Management Division, NARO Institute of Fruit Tree Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8605, Japan

    Ryo Nakano, Fumio Ihara, Koji Mishiro & Masatoshi Toyama

Authors
  1. Ryo Nakano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fumio Ihara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Koji Mishiro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Masatoshi Toyama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ryo Nakano.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nakano, R., Ihara, F., Mishiro, K. et al. Male courtship ultrasound produced by mesothoracic tymbal organs in the yellow peach moth Conogethes punctiferalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Appl Entomol Zool 47, 129–135 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13355-012-0099-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13355-012-0099-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation