Extending the vibroscape to agroecosystems: investigating the influence of abiotic factors and monitoring insect vibrational signaling

Abstract

Environmental conditions are crucial factors that influence communication systems and affect animal behavior. Research in the field of biotremology has improved our understanding of insect behavior, ecology, and evolution. However, the interactions between vibrational signaling and environmental factors are less studied, mainly because of technical issues faced in field trials. We therefore developed and tested an approach to investigate the effect of abiotic factors on insect vibrational signaling and explored its implementation as a monitoring tool for insect vibrational signals, using a vineyard as an agroecosystem model. Our results showed a significant decrease in insect signaling activity during unsuitable conditions of high temperature and wind velocity. We determined for the first time, the daily signaling pattern of the two insect pests,Scaphoideus titanusandHalyomorpha halys, in natural conditions. Biotremology techniques could be profitably used to monitor not only the presence of target pest species but also the biodiversity associated with vibrational signaling insects. In particular, the method implemented in this study could be used as a tool to compare the quality of cultivated areas under different management systems.