A research group led by Ken Kodama (a doctoral student) at the Graduate School of Kyushu University, in collaboration with Osaka Public University, examined the responses to each part when male tsuku tsuku boushis were asked to sing the ``Oshin tsuku tsuku'' and ``tsukuri yoshi'' parts independently. For the first time, we show different frequencies and that these parts elicit different responses in males.
Cicadas are animals in which only the males emit vocalizations, which are said to be used for competition between males and for appealing to females.Among them, the cicada called tsuku tsuku boushi has an extremely rare characteristic in that its call pattern changes from ``oshin tsuku tsuku'' to ``tsukuri yoshi'' in the middle.On the other hand, the biological significance of changing the call midway through is unclear.
The research group played back the ``oshin tsuku tsuku'' and ``tsukuri yoshi'' parts of the tsuku tsuku boushi's call using a speaker and played it to a captured male tsuku tsuku boushi.In the tsuku tsuku boushi, when a male is singing, another male nearby puts out a ``gee'' sound.Therefore, when different voice data were reproduced and the frequencies of interplay were compared, more interplay was made in response to the voice containing the "Oshin Tsukutsuku" part.For the first time, it was found that the behavior of other males changed when the call pattern of the tsukutsukuboushi changed.
In the future, we plan to evaluate the behavioral responses of females and explore the effect of male calls on reproduction.In addition, if we investigate the kind of vocalizations that females prefer in males, we will be able to understand the evolution of the complex vocalizations.In addition, the significance of the interlocking hand emitted by the male in terms of communication was unclear.A detailed comparison of behavioral responses between males is expected to elucidate the meaning of differences in male responses to vocal parts.
Paper information:【Entomological Science】Difference in the responses of male cicada Meimuna opalifera to the two parts of conspecific calling song
