Vibrational communication and mating behavior of the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae).

Fattoruso, V; Anfora, G; Mazzoni, V

Vibrational communication and mating behavior of the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae).

Fattoruso, V

Anfora, G Mazzoni, V

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Publisher:: Nature Publishing Group
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Scientific Reports, 2021, 11, (1), pp. 1-11
Issue Date:: 2021-03-22

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Fattoruso, V https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1558-5676
dc.contributor.author	Anfora, G
dc.contributor.author	Mazzoni, V
dc.date.accessioned	2022-05-13T02:51:25Z
dc.date.available	2021-02-22
dc.date.available	2022-05-13T02:51:25Z
dc.date.issued	2021-03-22
dc.identifier.citation	Scientific Reports, 2021, 11, (1), pp. 1-11
dc.identifier.issn	2045-2322
dc.identifier.issn	2045-2322
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/157314
dc.description.abstract	The greenhouse whitefly (GW), Trialeurodes vaporariorum is considered one of the most harmful insect pests in greenhouses worldwide. The GW mating behavior has been partially investigated and its vibrational communication is only in part known. A deeper knowledge of its intraspecific communication is required to evaluate the applicability of control methods based on techniques of behavioral manipulation. In this study, for the first time, we provided a detailed ethogram of the GW mating behavior and we characterized the vibrational signals emitted during the process of pair formation. We characterized two types of male vibrational emissions ("chirp" and "pulses"), differently arranged according to the behavioral stage to form stage-specific signals, and a previously undescribed Male Rivalry Signal. We recorded and characterized two new female signals: The Female Responding Signal and the Female Rejective Signal. The mating behavior of GW can be divided into six different stages that we named "call", "alternated duet", "courtship", "overlapped duet", "mating", "failed mating attempt". The analysis performed with the Markovian behavioral transition matrix showed that the "courtship" is the key stage in which male exhibits its quality and can lead to the "overlapped duet" stage. The latter is strictly associated to the female acceptance and therefore it plays a crucial role to achieve mating success. Based on our findings, we consider the use of vibrational playbacks interfering with GW mating communication a promising option for pest control in greenhouses. We discuss the possibility to start a research program of behavioral manipulation to control the populations of GW.
dc.format	Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Nature Publishing Group
dc.relation.ispartof	Scientific Reports
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1038/s41598-021-85904-0
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.mesh	Animal Communication
dc.subject.mesh	Animals
dc.subject.mesh	Biological Assay
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Hemiptera
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Sexual Behavior, Animal
dc.subject.mesh	Animal Communication
dc.subject.mesh	Animals
dc.subject.mesh	Biological Assay
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Hemiptera
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Sexual Behavior, Animal
dc.subject.mesh	Animals
dc.subject.mesh	Hemiptera
dc.subject.mesh	Biological Assay
dc.subject.mesh	Animal Communication
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Sexual Behavior, Animal
dc.title	Vibrational communication and mating behavior of the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae).
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	11
utslib.location.activity	England
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2022-05-13T02:51:20Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	11
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

The greenhouse whitefly (GW), Trialeurodes vaporariorum is considered one of the most harmful insect pests in greenhouses worldwide. The GW mating behavior has been partially investigated and its vibrational communication is only in part known. A deeper knowledge of its intraspecific communication is required to evaluate the applicability of control methods based on techniques of behavioral manipulation. In this study, for the first time, we provided a detailed ethogram of the GW mating behavior and we characterized the vibrational signals emitted during the process of pair formation. We characterized two types of male vibrational emissions ("chirp" and "pulses"), differently arranged according to the behavioral stage to form stage-specific signals, and a previously undescribed Male Rivalry Signal. We recorded and characterized two new female signals: The Female Responding Signal and the Female Rejective Signal. The mating behavior of GW can be divided into six different stages that we named "call", "alternated duet", "courtship", "overlapped duet", "mating", "failed mating attempt". The analysis performed with the Markovian behavioral transition matrix showed that the "courtship" is the key stage in which male exhibits its quality and can lead to the "overlapped duet" stage. The latter is strictly associated to the female acceptance and therefore it plays a crucial role to achieve mating success. Based on our findings, we consider the use of vibrational playbacks interfering with GW mating communication a promising option for pest control in greenhouses. We discuss the possibility to start a research program of behavioral manipulation to control the populations of GW.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/157314