STRIDULATION APPARATUSES OF SIX SPECIES OF Agromyza (Diptera:Agromyzidae)

The present paper deals with stridulation apparatuses,observed by SEM,of 6 species of the genus Agromyza from China (2 species among them are newly recorded to China).Some morphological terms are proposed for the first time,and a key to 6 species of Agromyza applied by the characteristics of stridulatory file is given.We also scheme out a diagram showing relationship between two stridulatory file types.

Differences in pectoral fin spine morphology between vocal and silent clades of catfishes (Order Siluriformes): Ecomorphological implications

Stridulatory sound-producing behavior is widespread across catfish families, but some are silent. To understand why, we compared spine morphology and ecotype of silent and vocal clades. We determined vocal ability of laboratory specimens during disturbance behavior. Vocal families had bony （not flexible or segmented） spines, well-developed anterior and/or posterior serrations, and statistically significantly longer spines. We compared morphology of the proximal end of the pectoral spine between vocal and silent species. For vocal taxa, microscopic rounded or bladed ridges or knobs were present on the dorsal process. Most silent species had reduced processes with exclusively smooth, convoluted, or honeycombed surfaces very similar to spine-locking surfaces, or they had novel surfaces （beaded, vacuolated, cobwebbed）. Most callichthyids had ridges but many were silent during disturbance. All doradid, most auchenipterid and most mochokid species were vocal and had ridges or knobs. Within the Auchenipteridae, vocal species had spines with greater weight and serration development but not length. Silent auchenipterids had thin, brittle, distally segmented spines with few microscopic serrations on only one margin and a highly reduced dorsal process lacking any known vocal morphology. Silent auchenipterids are derived and pelagic, while all vocal genera are basal and benthopelagic. This is the first phylogenetic evidence for stridulation mechanism loss within catfishes. Phylogenetic mapping of vocal ability, spine condition, and ecotype revealed the repeated presence of silence and vocal taxa, short and long spines, and ecotype shifts within clades. The appearance and loss of vocal behavior and supporting morphologies may have facilitated diversification among catfishes [Current Zoology 56 （1）： 73 89 2010].

Ultrastructure of stridulating organ of Xylotrechus rusticus L. (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) and behavioral responses to alarm sounds

We used scanning electron microscope （SEM） to observe the ultrastructure of stridulating organs in Xylotrechus rusticus L. We com- pared the morphological structure and size of stridulating organs, the numbers of a tooth-like part used in stridulation and its presence in fe- males and males of this beetle. The alarm sound of X.. rusticus was re- corded first when it was stimulated, then we tested behavioral responses to this alarm sound. The alarm sound ofX. rusticus has a warning effect on conspecifics.

Interactional behaviors of the parasitic beetle Paussus favieri with its ant host Pheidole pallidula:the mimetic role of the acoustical signals

The social parasitic beetle Puussus favieri(Coleoptera,Carabidae,Paussini)performs different types of stridulations,which sclectively mimic those emitted by dif-ferent ant castes of its host Pheidole pallidula(Hymenoptera,Formicidae,Myrmicinae).However,the significance of this acoustical mimicry for the success of the parasitic strat-egy and the behaviors elicited in the host ants by stridulations was unknown.We reared Paussus favieri in Pheidole pallidula colonies and filmed their interacting behaviors.We analyzed in slow motion the behavior of ants near a stridulating beetle.We analyzed sep-arately trains of pulse(Pa+Pb,produced by repeated rubbings)and single pulse(Pc,produced by a single rubbing)of stridulations,clearly recognizable from the shaking up and down of the beetle hind legs.and associated them with differcent ant responscs.The full repertoire of sounds produced by P:favieri elicited benevolent responses both in workers and soldiers.We found that different signals elicit different(sometimes multiplc)bchaviors in ants,with different frequency in the two ant castes.However,Pc(alone or in conjunction with other types of pulses)appears to be the type of acoustic signal mostly responsible for all recorded behaviors.These results indicate that the acoustic channel plays a pivotal role in the host-parasite interaction.Finding that a parasite uses the acoustical channel so intensively,and in such a complicated way to trigger ant bchaviors,indicates that acoustic signals may be more important in ant societies than commonly recognized.