Acoustic communication in insect disease vectors.
Acoustic signalling has been extensively studied in insect species, which has led to a better understanding of sexual communication, sexual selection and modes of speciation. The significance of acoustic signals for a blood-sucking insect was first reported in the XIX century by Christopher Johnston, studying the hearing organs of mosquitoes, but has received relatively little attention in other disease vectors until recently. Acoustic signals are often associated with mating behaviour and sexual selection and changes in signalling can lead to rapid evolutionary divergence and may ultimately contribute to the process of speciation. Songs can also have implications for the success of novel methods of disease control such as determining the mating competitiveness of modified insects used for mass-release control programs. Species-specific sound "signatures" may help identify incipient species within species complexes that may be of epidemiological significance, e.g. of higher vectorial capacity, thereby enabling the application of more focussed control measures to optimise the reduction of pathogen transmission. Although the study of acoustic communication in insect vectors has been relatively limited, this review of research demonstrates their value as models for understanding both the functional and evolutionary significance of acoustic communication in insects.
Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Insetos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Brasil, Rio de JaneiroRJ, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Insetos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Felipe de Mello
Fde M
Vigoder
Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Scotland, Fife, Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, UK.
Michael Gordon
MG
Ritchie
Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich,, UK, Chatham MaritimeKent, Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Medway Campus, Chatham Maritime, Kent, UK.
Gabriella
G
Gibson
Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Insetos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Brasil, Rio de JaneiroRJ, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Insetos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Alexandre Afranio
AA
Peixoto
D000819:Animal Communication; D000818:Animals; D004175:Diptera / Q000502:physiology*; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000502:physiology*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000502:physiology*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D013016:Sound; D013045:Species Specificity