THE INFLUENCE OF FEMALE AGE ON PHONOTAXIS DURING SINGLE AND MULTIPLE SONG PRESENTATIONS IN THE FIELD CRICKET, GRYLLUS INTEGER (ORTHOPTERA, GRYLLIDAE)

The influence of age on variation in female phonontaxis in the field c ricket, Gryllus integer, was investigated using a Kugel treadmill-type device. Synthetic male calling songs, with different pulse rates, wer e presented in both single-stimulus and three-stimulus designs. Female s were either 11-14 or 25-28 days postecdysis. Females varied in motiv ation, or the degree of reproductive effort they exhibited, but only i n single-stimulus trials: older females achieved higher scores than yo unger females. Females varied in selectivity, or the extent to which t hey discriminated among potential mates, in both presentation designs. All females discriminated against atypical pulse rates. In multiple-s timulus trials with normal range pulse rates, younger females were dis criminatory; older females were not. Mated females showed reduced phon otaxis and selectivity irrespective of mating interval.