Ultrasonic communication in Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Male Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) produce trains of 125 kHz sound pulses with a striated tymbal located on each tegula. There are nine striae on each tymbal making possible 36 sound pulses during each pulse train. The tymbals are activated by downward pressure of the forewings against the tegular-wing coupler. The sound is produced in two temporal patterns—a slow phase and a buzz phase. The sound produced by a calling male affects the behavior of both male and female C. cephalonica. It may also play a defensive role against other moth species competing with C. cephalonica for the same food resource. C. cephalonica infestations can be discovered and located by detecting male sound. Males can be accurately separated from females either by the presence of sound in living specimens or the presence of striated tymbals on dead specimens.