SOCIAL-BEHAVIOR AND COMMUNICATION IN THE NEOTROPICAL CICADA FIDICINA-MANNIFERA (FABRICIUS) (HOMOPTERA, CICADIDAE)

We investigated signalling behavior in relation to social context in t he cicada Fidicina mannifera. Four types of acoustic signals were reco rded from males: songs, calls, low-amplitude songs, and disturbance so unds. Signal types were similar in frequency and fine temporal structu re, but differed markedly in gross temporal structure. Songs and calls were the most frequently observed signals, and these differed in the social context in which they were used. When inter-male distances were large, males produced songs, overlapping them with songs of neighbori ng males. As nearest-neighbor distance decreased, males switched to ca lls, which were typically alternated back and forth between males. Bou ts of calls often were followed by a parallel walk display, which appa rently was involved in settling disputes over calling sites.