Functional Diversity of Vibrational Signaling Systems in Insects

• Published in: Annual review of entomology Vol. 68; no. 1; pp. 191 - 210
• Main Authors: Virant-Doberlet, Meta, Stritih-Peljhan, Nataša, uni -Kosi, Alenka, Polajnar, Jernej
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Annual Reviews 23.01.2023
• Subjects: Animal Communication; Animals; biotremology; Insecta; multimodal signaling; Pest Control; pest management; Signal Transduction; signaling context; substrate-borne communication; Vibration; vibrosensory evolution; multimodal signaling; vibrosensory evolution; pest management; substrate-borne communication; biotremology; signaling context
• ISSN: 0066-4170; 1545-4487
• DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-120220-095459

Communication by substrate-borne mechanical waves is widespread in insects. The specifics of vibrational communication are related to heterogeneous natural substrates that strongly influence signal transmission. Insects generate vibrational signals primarily by tremulation, drumming, stridulation, and tymbalation, most commonly during sexual behavior but also in agonistic, social, and mutualistic as well as defense interactions and as part of foraging strategies. Vibrational signals are often part of multimodal communication. Sensilla and organs detecting substrate vibration show great diversity and primarily occur in insect legs to optimize sensitivity and directionality. In the natural environment, signals from heterospecifics, as well as social and enemy interactions within vibrational communication networks, influence signaling and behavioral strategies. The exploitation of substrate-borne vibrational signaling offers a promising application for behavioral manipulation in pest control.