Acoustic courtship communication in Syntomeida epilais Wlk. (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae, Ctenuchinae)

The polka-dot wasp moth, Syntomeida epilais Wlk. (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae, Ctenuchinae), engages in extensive acoustic signaling during courtship. The signals, which are produced by both sexes, consist of sexually dimorphic trains of ultrasonic clicks. Field and laboratory behavioral experiments demonstrated that (1) sound production from both the male and the female is required for mating success, (2) female S. epilais show a higher level of acoustic responsiveness to male acoustic signals than to female signals, and (3) males use the female acoustic signals to locate their potential mates. It is suggested that the existence of the system is made possible by a reduction in bat predation pressure, perhaps the result of extreme distastefulness combined with the distinctive acoustic image that flying ctenuchines present to foraging bats.