New Data on Vibrational Communication in the Beetle Acanthoscelides obtectus (Coleoptera, Bruchidae)

Abstract

Many Bruchidae species are quarantine pests and are widely used as model species. However, as far as we know, acoustic communication has never been studied in detail in this group. Below we present the first data on the repertoire and emission mechanisms of acoustic communication in the bean weevil Acanthoscelides obtectus. Three types of signal emission were recorded in A. obtectus: striking the head and abdomen against the substrate, abdominal tremulations, and wing vibrations. Two types of signals were recorded in males, and one type, in females. All the acoustic signals recorded in A. obtectus contained both stable (pulse duration, pulse period: CV = 5–12%) and variable (duration of the pulse series: CV = 50%) signal elements. The frequency parameters showed low variation in all the signals (CV = 5–11%). Moreover, the dominant frequencies were similar in all the signal types (889–1158 Hz).