Caterpillar talk: Acoustically mediated territoriality in larval Lepidoptera

We provide evidence for conspecific acoustic communication in caterpillars. Larvae of the common hook-tip moth, Drepana arcuata (Drepanoidea), defend silk nest sites from conspecifics by using ritualized acoustic displays. So unds are produced by drumming the mandibles and scraping the mandibles and specialized anal "oars" against the leaf surface. Staged interactions betwe en a resident and intruder resulted in escalated acoustic "duels" that were typically resolved within minutes, but sometimes extended for several hour s. Resident caterpillars generally won territorial disputes, regardless of whether they had built the nest, but relatively large intruders occasionall y displaced residents from their nests. All evidence is consistent with aco ustic signaling serving a territorial function. As with many vertebrates, r itualized signaling appears to allow contestants to resolve contests withou t physical harm. Comparative evidence indicates that larval acoustic signal ing may be widespread throughout the Lepidoptera, meriting consideration as a principal mode of communication for this important group of insects.