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Back to List of Background & Research Materials Assem, J. van den TEMPORAL
PATTERNING OF COURTSHIP BEHAVIOUR IN SOME PARASITIC HYMENOPTERA, WITH
SPECIAL REFERENCE TO Melittobia
acasta. Journal of Entomology (A) 50(3):
137 - 146. 1975. Abstract. In many parasitic Hymenoptera. copulation is preceded by elaborate courtship displays which include species-specific characteristics. Other features, shared by related species, may be used for defining higher taxa. The male's repertoire consists of movements involving the wings, legs, antennae, and mouthparts. These movements are performed continuously, or intermittently, depending on the species involved. The elements of a repertoire are repeated over and over again until the female indicates her readiness to copulate. Temporal patterning of various displays, and the timing of the female response are described. In Melittobia acasta (Walker) (Eulophidae) the male display is composed not only of repeating elements, but also includes new elements introduced along the way. The display progresses towards a climactic finale. The timing of the female's copulation signal is accurately predictable. The morphology of Melittobia males is discussed in relation to this behaviour. Courtship of a related species, M. chalybii, is compared to the courtship of M. acasta. Melittobia
Species Mentioned: Melittobia acasta,
M. chalybii (later found to correspond
to M. digitata and M. acasta, see below) and M. hawaiiensis. Comments: A figure schematically shows temporal patterning of different types of courtship in different gall-making and parasitic wasps. Photographs of male head and antennae and also of the male and female during courtship are shown. Assem compares the courtship behavior of M. acasta and M. chalybii and comes to the conclusion that "these observations must cast doubt on the status of M. acasta and M. chalybii as separate species".
The courtship behavior information known for M. chalybii at the time, and used by Assem, was based on papers by Buckell [1928. The Pan-Pacific Entomologist 5: 14 – 22] and Hobbs and Krunic [1971. Canadian Entomologist 103: 674 – 685]. Subsequent research shows that the species in these two studies really correspond to M. digitata and M. acasta, respectively. Another reference source used by Assem for this paper was written by Torchio [1963. Utah Farm and Home Science. 24: 70 – 71]. Torchio’s live material, which was obtained from Ontario, Canada and identified as M. chalybii, apparently actually belonged to the species M. acasta. |