Journal of Insect Behavior (2014) 27, 804-815

Ricardo Ramirez-Romero, Daniela Perez-Ascencio and Delia Garibay-Benítez (2014)
Courtship behavior of the corn leafhopper Dalbulus maidis (DeLong and Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)
Journal of Insect Behavior 27 (6), 804-815
Abstract: Dalbulus maidis (DeLong and Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is one of the most important pathogen vectors on maize, but its courtship behavior has never been documented. In the present study, we recorded length of courtship and mating periods and behavioral transitions for D. maidis. According to these observations, we built ethograms for both sexes to create a comprehensive description of their courtship behavior. The mean courtship duration was 110.04 (±66.84) min and the mean mating period was 51.61 (±19.75) min. Both sexes showed similar, stereotyped behavioral transitions. However, females exhibited a lower frequency of several behavioral transitions and behaviors compared with males. Before mating, females were more frequently resting or performing an abdomen movement. Less frequently, they were walking or flapping the wings (wing fanning). Meanwhile, males exhibited three main behaviors before mating; the most frequent was wing fanning, followed by walking and approaching. However, during courtship, rapprochement between individuals of both sexes was not common so it is deduced that physical contact is not essential. In this regard, we discuss possible acoustic and chemical communication during the courtship process of D. maidis.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Ricardo Ramirez-Romero

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Dalbulus maidis