Abstract
Simple SummaryAlthough a growing number of studies have reported asymmetries of brain and behavior in various insect orders, detailed information on lateralization in the courtship and mating behavior of insects in the wild is scarce. In this research, we studied the courtship and mating behavior of the neem bug, Halys dentatus, in the field, quantifying lateralized behavioral displays, and assessing their impact on male mating success. A population-level lateralization in males approaching females was found. Furthermore, the male mating success was affected by lateralization; right-biased males achieved higher mating success rates. Overall, our results add useful knowledge on the reproductive behavior of H. dentatus in the field, with potential applications for identifying useful benchmarks to monitor the quality of individuals mass-reared for pest control purposes over time. This study furtherly highlights the role of lateralized traits in determining male mating success in insects.Lateralization has been documented in many insect species, but limited information on courtship and mating lateralization in wild conditions is available. We conducted field investigation on the courtship and mating behavior of the neem bug, Halys dentatus, a polyphagous insect mainly infesting Azadirachta indica, with particular attention to lateralization of mating displays. We investigated the presence of population-level behavioral asymmetries during H. dentatus sexual interactions and their influence on male mating success. Two lateralized traits were found: left or right-biased male approaches to the female and left or right-biased male turning displays. Males approaching females from their left side were mainly right-biased in the 180° turning display, and males that approached females from their right side were mainly left-biased. Right-biased males by turning 180° to carry out end-to-end genital contact, performed a lower number of copulation attempts, thus starting copula earlier than left-biased males. Mating success was higher when males approached the left side of females during sexual interactions. A higher number of successful mating interactions was observed in right-biased males when turning 180°. Our results add useful knowledge on the reproductive behavior of H. dentatus in the field, with potential applications for identifying useful benchmarks to monitor the quality of individuals mass-reared for pest control purposes over time.
Highlights
Lateralization is a fascinating principle of the brain organization
Strictly limited information is still available about lateralization of courtship and mating behavior in insect species belonging to the order Hemiptera [10]
Once a female H. dentatus was located, it was focally tracked by an observer for 40 min [43], to investigate the courtship and mating behavior of H. dentatus, as well as if any lateral bias emerged during sexual interactions
Summary
Lateralization (i.e., left–right asymmetries of brain and behavior) is a fascinating principle of the brain organization. It can contribute to improve brain efficiency in cognitive tasks involving both hemispheres, processing several streams of information concurrently [1,2]. Most research focus on lateralized traits in vertebrate animals [3–9]. An increasing number of studies are shedding light on individual- and population-level asymmetries in the brain and behavior of a growing number of insect species [1,2,10–16]. The lateralization of courtship and mating behavior has been studied in several insect species, including a tephritid fly [17], hymenopteran parasitoids [18,19], stored-product beetles [20–23], mosquitoes [24], and a calliphorid fly [25]. Strictly limited information is still available about lateralization of courtship and mating behavior in insect species belonging to the order Hemiptera [10]
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