Site-specific insect fluorescence in courtship displays

Abstract

Light is electromagnetic radiation, which is essential for nearly all living organisms, especially in mating behavior and reproduction. In insects this behavior is extremely complex and diverse. This is especially evident in the order Hymenoptera, which includes over 150,000 species. Previous studies of mating rituals in hymenopterans have primarily focused on tactile, olfactory, motor, and acoustic signals, while visual aspects have been studied to a much lesser extent. In particular, visual studies have largely lacked species-level observations in the blue (Ex: 436 nm / Em: 480 nm), green (Ex: 470 nm / Em: 525 nm), yellow (Ex: 500 nm / Em: 535 nm), and red (Ex: 560 nm / Em: 645 nm) parts of the spectrum. In this study, we observed several insect groups — Eurytomidae, Eupelmidae, and Cynipidae — across different regions of the spectrum. We found that certain body parts involved in mating rituals, specifically the wings, eyes, and legs, exhibit fluorescence under blue, green, and red light. The fluorescence in all insect species was most intense under blue light. Furthermore, we recorded mating behaviors in various species, which differ depending on the group, and correlated these behaviors with the body parts that fluoresce under blue light. Our findings suggest that blue fluorescence of specific body parts may serve as species-specific markers, potentially aiding in the identification of closely related species. This discovery opens new perspectives for the study of insect mating behavior and enhances our understanding of the role that different spectral regions play in natural communication and evolution.

Speaker

Matvey I. Nikelshparg
Ben-Gurion University
Israel

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