Mate searching in Ennya maculicornis (Membracidae: Polyglyptini) initiated by females: behavioural and acoustic descriptions

Abstract

1. In treehoppers in which courtship has been studied, males initiate the search for females by periodically emitting a vibrational signal. The responses by the female are used by males as a beacon and give rise to a duet. 2. Courtship and mating of the treehopper Ennya maculicornis were characterised through the simultaneous recording of vibrational signals and the behaviour of males and females in an arena. 3. In E. maculicornis, female initiated mate searching. Females produced two types of signals during the this process: (i) a signal that preceded the approach by the male and (ii) a signal that preceded mating. Males emitted two signals associated with two stereotyped body movements: (i) a signal produced as a response to the first signal emitted by the female, involving a change in the male's locomotory mode and the approach to the female, and (ii) a signal produced after finding and holding on to the female, involving simultaneous abdomen ra