Foreleg stridulation in male Urania moths (Lepidoptera: Uraniidae)

Abstract

Males of the uraniid moth genus Urania possess a stridulatory organ on the prothoracic leg. This organ represents an autapomorphy for the genus. The sound-producing mechanism consists of a peg formed of specialized scales on the coxa which produces a train of high pitched clicks when scraped against scales on the proximal end of the femur. The proximal end of the femur is enlarged compared with that of the females and would serve to amplify the sound pulse. Stridulation occurs during a series of rapid forward jerks of the forelegs. The sound produced by Urania consists of a low amplitude pulse audible to humans at short range but with a strong ultrasound component. It has not yet been observed in the wild and its function in these moths is unknown, but it may be used during intrasexual or perhaps intersexual communication. This organ is unlikely to have been evolved originally as a defence against nocturnal predators since the genus is a member of an exclusively diurnal clade and females lack the organ. Stridulation occurs in conjunction with fanning-out of the foreleg femoral hair pencil and this invites speculation as to a route for evolution of the organ.