Drumming Behavior of Four Species of North American Pteronarcyidae (Plecoptera): Dialects in Colorado and Alaska Pteronarcella badia1

Previously undescribed Pteronarcys dorsata, Allonarcys biloba, and Allonarcys proteus drumming signals are species-specific, with male calls having five, seven, and four mode drumbeats, and beat intervals of 270 ± 26, 515 ± 46, and 308 ± 12 msec, respectively. Drumming of Tonsina River, Alaska, Pteronarcella badia populations appears to represent a dialect when compared with Dolores and Gunnison River, Colo., populations. Both males and females have fewer drumbeats and shorter beat intervals, despite recording at a 3°C cooler temperature. Mode signal beats of the five species are relatively few, ranging from 4 to 7, but beat intervals are of two types: fast signals ($$\bar x$$ 65 to 75 msec) by Pteronarcella badia, and slow signals ($$\bar x$$ 225 to 525 msec) by Allonarcys and Pteronarcys species.