Fighting behaviour of male western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)

Olaniran, O. A. and Kirk, W. D. J. (2012) Fighting behaviour of male western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica, 47 (1). pp. 125-132. ISSN 0238-1249

Text aphyt.47.2012.1.16.pdf Restricted to Repository staff only until 30 June 2032. Download (305kB)

Abstract

Adult male western flower thrips form mating aggregations within which fighting can occur between pairs of males. They may be defending a strategic position for mating. An understanding of this fighting behaviour, which is part of mating behaviour, may be useful for the development of novel methods of pest management. A bioassay was developed to observe male fighting and record it on video. The effect of male density on this behaviour was then investigated. Interactions consisted of either a brief contact with instant separation and no fighting or a longer contact with mutual abdominal flicking before separation. Fights usually lasted just a few seconds, but there were also many prolonged interactions with several bouts of abdominal flicking. The rate of brief contacts without fighting increased linearly with male density as expected because of the greater number of thrips in the arena. However, the rate of fighting and the duration of fights had a maximum at an intermediate male density, with less fighting and shorter fights at higher and lower densities, presumably reflecting the changes in the costs and benefits of fighting at different male densities. Observations suggested that a pheromone may be involved during fighting.

Actions (login required)

Edit Item