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ASPECTS OF THE BIOLOGY OF THREE SPECIES OF THE GENUS RHANTUS (COLEOPTERA: DYTISCIDAE) WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE ACOUSTICAL BEHAVIOR OF TWO1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Robert L. Smith
Robert L. Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces
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Abstract

Two of three species of the genus Rhantus studied were found to produce sounds while in water. Sound production by both sexes of R. gutticollis and R. binotatus occurs in a behavioral context of emigration, while R. atricolor does not produce waterborne sounds. Elevated temperature, absence of suitable bottom substrate, and high densities were effective stimuli for sound production by’ the two acoustically active species. The sounds were analyzed and a mechanism previously described as being involved in preflight warm-up of the thoracic musculature was found responsible for sound production in water. Possible functions of acoustical behavior are discussed, and new information on some aspects of the habitat ecology and general behavior of adults of the three species is provided.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 105 , Issue 6 , June 1973 , pp. 909 - 919
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1973

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