NEW DATA ON VIBRATION COMMUNICATION IN THE ACANTHOSCELIDES OBTECTUS BEETLE (COLEOPTERA, BRUCHIDAE)

Many Bruchidae species are quarantine pests and are widely used as model species. However, as far as we know, acoustic communication has never been studied in detail in this group. Below we present the first data on the repertoire and emission techniques in the acoustic communication of a Bruchidae beetle, Acanthoscelides obtectus. Three types of signal emission were registered in A. obtectus: striking the head and abdomen against the substrate, abdominal tremulations, and wing vibrations. We have registered three types of signal: male song-1, male song-2, and female song. All of the acoustic signals registered in A. obtectus are demonstrated to contain both stable (pulse duration, pulse period: CV=5-12%) and variable (duration of a series of pulses: CV= 50%) signal elements. The frequency parameters show low variation in all of the signals registered (CV= 5-11%). Moreover, the dominant frequencies of all signal types are similar (around 1000 Hz).