Enhanced calling song syllable period discrimination during one-eared phonotaxis by the female cricket (Acheta domesticus)

Abstract

1. In an arena, female Acheta domesticus, which walked directly to a standard model calling song (CS) in a pretest, displayed angular deviations and complete 360° circling following unilateral occlusion of the posterior and anterior tympana. Following removal of the occlusion, the crickets once again oriented directly to the sound source (Fig. 1). Following unilateral removal of the tibia of a prothoracic leg just distal to the ear, crickets oriented directly to a standard CS. Unilateral leg amputation just proximal to the ear caused angular deviations and circling which was similar to that following occlusion of an ear (Fig. 2). 2. Thresholds of auditory interneurons increased dramatically (to greater than 85 dB) following occlusion of the ear which provides excitatory input to these neurons. Removal of the occlusion restored responsiveness (Fig. 3). 3. The mean number of complete turns by a cricket with one ear occluded is greatest in response to syllable periods that are most attractive and thus can be used as a measurement of the relative attractiveness of the CS presented (Figs. 4, 5). Females that did not significantly discriminate between different syllable periods before unilateral occlusion of an ear, discriminated between CS syllable periods by their degree of circling following occlusion.