Species Isolation Mechanisms in Rhyacionia frustrana and R. rigidana

Publisher： Entomological Society of America

ISSN： 1938-2901

Source： Annals of the Entomological Society of America, Vol.67, Iss.2, 1974-03, pp. : 292-294

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Abstract

Some possible mechanisms for isolation of the Nantucket pine tip moth, Rhyacionia frustrana (Comstock), and the pitch pine tip moth, R. rigidana (Fernald), were investigated. Females of both species were attractive to their respective males for only short periods and female calling times overlapped only slightly. Response of males to their respective females was inhibited by the presence of calling females of the other species. Data from this and previous studies indicate that four mechanisms may isolate R. frustrana and R. rigidana. Three mechanisms are apparently capable of isolating these species alone: morphological differences in genitalia, species specific female sex pheromones, and reciprocal inhibition of male response. A fourth mechanism is time of female calling. It is effective in combination with inhibition, which is strongest during the period of overlap in female calling times.