The role of sonic signals in the sexual communication of peach twig borers, Anarsia lineatella, Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

I tested the hypothesis that feinale peach twig borers, Anarsia lineatella, Zeller (Lepidotpera: Gelechiidae), use acoustic signals in addition to known pherornone signals during sexual communication. I employed a digital system to record and pla.yback sound. Males, flying on a tether, emitted signals of 12 dB above ambient sound intensity with wingbeats of 60 Hz and upper signal components at 2.5 and 10 kHz. Females produced sonic reply signals [50 Hz (wingbeat), 2 and 14 kHz) when exposed either to playback recordings of the males' signals or to signals fiom live males. The males' sonic signals provoked females to reduce pheromone emission. In field experiments, trap:; baited with sex pheromone and playback recordings of feinale sonic signals captured significantly more males than traps baited with sex pheromone alone. My data support the hypothesis that female and male A. lineatella use bioacoustic and pheromonal signals during sexual communication.