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Arthropod Struct Dev

Title:		Antennal courtship and functional morphology of tyloids in the parasitoid wasp Syrphoctonus tarsatorius (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Diplazontinae)
Author(s):		Steiner SM; Kropf C; Graber W; Nentwig W; Klopfstein S;
Address:		"Natural History Museum, Department of Invertebrates, Bernastrasse 15, CH-3005 Bern, Switzerland"
Journal Title:		Arthropod Struct Dev
Year:		2010
Volume:		20091105
Issue:		1
Page Number:		33 - 40
DOI:		10.1016/j.asd.2009.10.001
ISSN/ISBN:		1873-5495 (Electronic) 1467-8039 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Courtship behaviour and associated morphological characters are believed to evolve under diversifying sexual selection. In Hymenoptera, sexually dimorphic antennal structures, the 'tyloids', show a large variability. Although crucial for functional interpretation, the link between tyloid morphology and courtship behaviour has gained only limited attention. Here, we investigate antennal morphology and antennal courtship in the parasitoid wasp Syrphoctonus tarsatorius (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Diplazontinae). We confirm the glandular nature of the tyloids by light and scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, we report a new form of antennation during courtship, antennal double-coiling, which links morphology and behaviour by bringing the tyloids in direct contact with the antennae of the female, thus probably facilitating the transfer of a contact pheromone. We show that a change in haemolymph pressure is the activator of the antennal movement and that it can be reproduced in the laboratory using amputated antennae. Investigations of antennal structure and movement in three additional hymenopteran species suggest that the number and location of tyloids coincide with the modality of antennal coiling. Our method for simulating antennal movement will enable retrieving information about courtship behaviour from museum specimens, thus leading to a better understanding of the evolution of courtship behaviour in Hymenoptera"
Keywords:		"Animals Biological Evolution Female Hemolymph/physiology Male Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Sex Attractants/metabolism Sex Characteristics *Sexual Behavior, Animal Species Specificity Wasps/anatomy & histology/*physiology/ultrastructure;"
Notes:		"MedlineSteiner, Salome M Kropf, Christian Graber, Werner Nentwig, Wolfgang Klopfstein, Seraina eng Comparative Study England 2009/10/20 Arthropod Struct Dev. 2010 Jan; 39(1):33-40. doi: 10.1016/j.asd.2009.10.001. Epub 2009 Nov 5"