Differences in male Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus hearing systems facilitate recognition of conspecific female flight tones
YuMin M. Loh,
Yifeng Y.J. Xu,
Tai-Ting Lee,
Takuro S. Ohashi,
Yixiao D. Zhang,
Daniel F. Eberl,
Matthew P. Su,
Azusa Kamikouchi
Affiliations
YuMin M. Loh
Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan; Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
Yifeng Y.J. Xu
Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan; Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
Tai-Ting Lee
Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan; Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
Takuro S. Ohashi
Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan; Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
Yixiao D. Zhang
Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan; Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
Daniel F. Eberl
Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Matthew P. Su
Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan; Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan; Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan; Corresponding author
Azusa Kamikouchi
Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan; Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan; Corresponding author
Summary: When Aedes albopictus mosquitoes invade regions predominated by Aedes aegypti, either the latter can be displaced or the species can coexist, with potential consequences on disease transmission. Males from both species identify females by listening for her flight sounds. Comparing male hearing systems may provide insight into how hearing could prevent interspecific mating. Here, we show that species-specific differences in female wing beat frequencies are reflected in differences in male ear mechanical tuning frequencies and sound response profiles. Though Aedes albopictus males are attracted to sound, they do not readily display abdominal bending, unlike Aedes aegypti. We observed interspecific differences in male ear mechanical, but not electrical, tuning, suggesting a conserved primary auditory processing pathway. Our work suggests a potential role for hearing in the premating isolation of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, with implications for predicting future dynamics in their sympatric relationships and our understanding of mosquito acoustic communication.
