Drumming Behavior of Four Western Nearctic Isoperla (Plecoptera) Species1

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Abstract
Drumming was successfully recorded from 4 of 7 reared Isoperla, representing 3 species complexes and 14 western nearctic collection localities. All 4 engaged in 2-way communication. The ♂ Isoperla phalerata (Banks) signal was diphasic, with a ݲ of 13 plus 22 beats, at relatively constant ݲ frequencies of 24.6 and 6.4 ms. The monophasic ♀ answer had a ݲ of 8 beats at 27.1 ms. Mean beats and frequency of the monophasic male Isoperla quinquepunctata (Banks) signal were 9 and 43.3 ms, respectively. Females responded with 2 beats, at a frequency of 6.1 ms, usually beginning after the male 6th beat. Symphonies of combined and overlapped signals of this species were exhibited by laboratory groups. Isoperla mormona (Banks) ♂ had a ݲ of 11 beats with a frequency of 45.9 ms. One ♀ was observed drumming twice but would not cooperate in the drumming chamber. Isoperla fulva. Claassen males tapped 5–6 times with a frequency of 25.9 ms. Females answered with a ݲ of 5 beats at a frequency of 16.3 ms. Signal characteristics were species-specific, although one group of ♀ I. quinquepunctata answered ♂ I. mormona taped signals after the 5th or 6th beat. The 1st 6 ♂ beats in these 2 species exhibited similar frequencies. These females, however, exhibited a mating avoidance response when paired with I. mormona ♂. Drumming behavior serves as additional data input in establishing Plecoptera phylogeny, and corresponded well in this study to morphological species groupings of Isoperla.

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