Data for "A mobile trackball system for studying phonotaxis of insects in the field"

Abstract

We introduce a mobile trackball system for measuring phonotactic behaviour of insects in the field. The trackball system allows generating quantitative behavioural data in the field. Experiments for determination of the phonotactic threshold of two insect species of a parasitoid-host system proofed the utility and usability of this method. The threshold of the parasitoid fly Emblemasoma auditrix (Shewell, 1976) in response to the calling song of the host cicada Okanagana rimosa (Say, 1830) could be confirmed with 61 dB SPL. The behavioural threshold of female cicadas O. rimosa could be determined for the first time to 62 dB SPL. Thus, the mobile system allowed testing of the cicada in the field, which was not possible in laboratory environment. Generally, it was possible to test animals that exhibit certain behaviours only outdoors and to test intact animals and to release them immediately after completion of the experiment. With this method, it will also be possible to test animals under real environmental conditions, for example, in respect to noise.

Here we provide: 1. A figure plate of the method. 2. A video of the phonotaxis of E. auditrix on the trackball. 3. A video of the phonotaxis of O. rimosa on the trackball. 4. The data set used for figure 2 and information about the parts of the trackball system.