Drumming behavior of twelve North American stonefly (Plecoptera) species: First descriptions in Peltoperlidae, Taeniopterygidae and Chloroperlidae¹

Abstract

Previously unreported drumming signals of 11 species in the families Peltoperlidae, Taeniopterygidae, Capniidae, Perlodidae and Chloroperlidae are described, and signals of a 12th species, Isogenoides zionensis, ate further described. Drumming in four Soliperla species was of two basic types; the diphasic male calls and long first-phase beat intervals of S. fenderi were in marked contrast to monophasic call and shorter beat intervals of other males. Females of three Soliperla would drum without a male call. The 37hyphen;way Taeniopteryx nivalis signals were generally similar to two other known Taeniopteryx in: (1;lpar) monophasic nature of the male call, and (2) number of beats in the male call, female answer and male response. Beat intervals were distinctly different from other species at comparable temperatures. Calliperla luctuosa male calls were arranged in a series of one‐ or two‐beat groupings, a pattern basically similar to several other Perlodidae. Drumming of Isogenoides zionensis is the most complex known in the Plecoptera. Male‐female exchanges began as interspersed signals, then changed to sequenced 3‐way signals. During the interspersed portion male calls consisted of 11 beats in 3–4 groupings, within which the female answer was spaced. Both chloroperlids, Kathroperla perdita and Paraperla frontalis, had di‐phasic male calls, with 6.1 ± 0.7 and 74 ± 10.6 beats, respectively, in the first phases, and with distinctly different beat intervals. Males of other species analyzed included Isocapnia grandis, Helopicus nalatus and Isogenoides elongaius.