Crickets Exhibiting Female Same-Sex Behavior for the First Time, Yet Previously Unnoticed Due to Lack of Observation
In a groundbreaking study published in the prestigious Proceedings Of The Royal Society B, researchers delved into the world of female-female interactions in Hawaiian field crickets (Teleogryllus oceanicus). This species, well-studied in male-male and male-female social interactions, has revealed some surprising findings about the impact of male song and genetics on female social behavior.
Key findings
The presence of male song significantly increased female social interaction, leading to more frequent and prolonged antennal contact. This behavior, interpreted as detection and assessment, suggests heightened socializing in the presence of male song. Interestingly, female pairs with matching genotypes interacted more than mismatched pairs, but all pairings showed increased interaction levels when male song was present, indicating that genotype influences, but does not override, the stimulus effect of male song.
The research documented rare behaviors such as female mounting and acceptance of mounting, with only two mounting instances and one acceptance observed. These behaviors had not been reported before, likely due to insufficient study of female-female interactions in crickets.
Aggression and flight were also observed. Biting was more common in the presence of male song, often occurring during or after antenna contact, while flight attempts mainly occurred in silence. Males bite each other on the heads, while females bite on the legs or abdomens of other individuals.
Broader evolutionary implications
The flatwing mutation that silences males in some Hawaiian field crickets helps avoid parasitoid flies attracted to male chirps. The findings suggest that female social behaviors influenced by genotype and presence of song might indirectly affect parasitism risk and thus have evolutionary consequences, although this requires further study.
Implications for future research
The study highlights the complex interplay of genetics and social environment in these crickets. It underscores the importance of paying attention to any sex that may be understudied in a given system. The findings represent the first known instance of same-sex female sexual behavior in crickets, offering a new avenue for research in the field.
Each experimental trial lasted 10 minutes after the second cricket was added. In total, 167 trials were carried out, with each trial being filmed for behavior analysis. The results suggest that future research should delve deeper into the understudied world of female-female interactions in insects and the wider animal research world.
References:
[1] S.A. Pukhaisarath, et al., "Female-female social interactions in Hawaiian field crickets (Teleogryllus oceanicus) are influenced by male song and genotype." Proc. R. Soc. B 288, 20161429 (2021).
[2] S.A. Pukhaisarath, et al., "Female-female social interactions in Hawaiian field crickets (Teleogryllus oceanicus) are influenced by male song and genotype." BioRxiv (2021). [preprint]
- The study, published in the Proceedings Of The Royal Society B, reveals that the impact of male song and genetics on female social behavior in Hawaiian field crickets (Teleogryllus oceanicus) is a significant area of interest in biology and genetics research.
- Interestingly, the research suggests that sexual-health and fitness-and-exercise behaviors, such as female mounting and acceptance of mounting, are more prevalent than previously thought in this species, thanks to the advancement of observation methods.
- Furthermore, the findings suggest that evolution in this species may be influenced by the interplay of genetics, social environment, and environmental factors like parasitoid flies, indicating a connection between science, health-and-wellness, and the environment.
- The study also emphasizes the importance of investigating understudied aspects of animals, particularly similar behaviors in various species, for a comprehensive understanding of the vast and complex world of animal behavior and evolution.
- As future research continues in this field, investigators may explore the intricacies of female-female interactions in various insects and the wider animal research world, expanding our knowledge in the realm of science and contributing to a more holistic understanding of animal behavior, genetics, and evolution.
