Substrate Vibrations : Mating Signal of Three Species of Planthoppers which Attack the Rice Plant : Homoptera : Delphacidae

Abstract

Female abdominal vibration (FAV) was observed in three species of planthoppers, Nilaparvata lugens STAL, Laodelphax striatellus (FALLEN) and Sogatella furcifera (HORVATH), purior to copulation. Males of the three species which were placed on rice plants responded to the substrate vibrations caused by FAV of the same species, and were attracted to the vibrating females even from a distance of about 80 cm-the maximum distance examined. It was observed that males of each species did not show any behavioral response to the substrate vibrations caused by FAV of the other two species. No other sense stimuli, such as visual, acoustic and chemical ones, were concerned for perception of females even from a distance of a fer cm. The substrate vibrations caused by FAV were electrically detected and recorded on sound tape. Playback elicited the same response in males as was observed for the intact substrate vibrations. Pulse repetition frequencies of the substrate vibrations were ca. 20/sec. for N. lugens, ca. 13/sec. for L. striatellus and ca. 9/sec. for S. furcifera at 25°±1°C. Wave train pattern of each pulse was also different among the three species. These differences in substate vibrations caused by FAV are believed to be the principal factor for species discrimination in mating behavior.