01646nas a2200181   4500008004100000245008100041210006900122520107500191653001301266653001801279653002401297653001101321653001001332653001701342100002501359700002001384856006001404       2019                        eng d00aBark beetles use a spring-loaded mechanism to produce variable song patterns0 aBark beetles use a springloaded mechanism to produce variable so3 a<p>Many insects vary their song patterns to communicate different messages, but the underlying biomechanisms are often poorly understood. Here, we report on the mechanics of sound production and variation in an elytro-tergal stridulator, male Dendroctonus valens bark beetles. Using ablation experiments coupled with high-speed video and audio recordings, we show that: (1) chirps are produced using a stridulatory file on the left elytron (forewing) and a protrusion (plectrum) on the seventh abdominal segment; (2) chirps are produced by &lsquo;spring stridulation&rsquo;, a catch-and-release mechanism whereby the plectrum catches on a file tooth and, upon release, springs forward along the file; and (3) variability in chirp types is caused by introducing multiple catch-and-release events along the file to create regular interruptions. These results provide experimental evidence for the mechanics of elytro-tergal stridulation, and provide insight into how an insect can incorporate variability into its acoustic repertoire using a spring-loaded mechanism.</p>
10aAcoustic10acommunication10aDendroctonus valens10aInsect10asound10astridulation1 aLindeman, Amanda, A.1 aYack, Jayne, E.  uhttp://jeb.biologists.org/lookup/doi/10.1242/jeb.190660