Comparison of Substrate-Borne Vibrational Signals ofTwo Stink Bug Species, <I>Acrosternum hilare</I> and <I>Nezara viridula</I> (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Abstract

Substrate-borne vibrational signals (songs) were recorded from the green stink bug, Acrosternum hilare (Say) and the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.). Female A. hilare emitted one song type in the calling phase of mating behavior, and the production of this song was stimulated by male presence or calling. The temporal characteristics of the pulses and pulse trains of this song were similar to the narrow-band type of pulse trains that constituted the N. viridula female calling song. Male A. hilare produced two different songs, each associated with a different phase of mating behavior. In the calling phase, males produced a song composed of regularly repeated, complex pulse trains whose temporal structure resembled that of the N. viridula male courtship song. In the courtship phase of behavior, males of A. hilare emitted a song that terminated female singing. The pulses of this song had similar temporal characteristics to those of the narrow-band type of the N. viridula male calling song. Immediately after initiating copulation, A. hilare pairs emitted another song, which had no counterpart in the repertoire of N. viridula or other pentatomid species that have been examined. In contrast, males of A. hilare did not appear to produce a song equivalent to the N. viridula male rival song, and neither sex of A. hilare produced songs equivalent to the broad-band pulses and pulse trains found within male and female N. viridula calling songs. Orientation of males toward females was mediated by the female calling song, which had similar spectral and temporal characteristics in both species. Male songs of the two species, although they shared some spectral characteristics, differed in temporal structure and in the contexts in which they were emitted.