Ostrinia scapulalis

Wolbachia bacteria is responsible for one of the most prevalent diseases for O. scapulalis. These bacteria are maternally transmitted and their presence can cause many reproductive abnormalities in arthropods such as the adzuki bean borer. Namely, the bacteria can convert genetic males into functional females in a process known as feminization. This can skew the sex ratio of a population, which may in turn lower reproductive rates.[5]

Predators of O. scapulalis include:

• Lizards (Lacertilia)
• Cats (Felis catus)
• Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)
• Rodents (Rodentia)
• Insectivores: birds, owls, and bats[6]
• Humans, specifically farmers (Homo sapiens)[3]

The Ostrinia species are victim to many natural parasites:

• Lydella thompsoni[7]
• Pseudoperichaeta nigrolineata[7]
• Macrocentrus cingulum[7]
• Microsporidia (fungus)[7]

While Lydella thompsoni and Pseudoperichaeta nigrolineata both are known to parasitize other hosts, Macrocentrus cingulum is primarily associated with Ostrinia. Certain parasites such as Trichogramma brassicae are also used for biological control.[7]

The adzuki bean borer is able to emit ultrasonic pulses at 40 kHz. This can be used in the context of mating, but it can also be used to fend off predators that use ultrasound as a locating mechanism. The adzuki bean borer generates these pulses and flies erratically to confuse and escape predation, specifically from bats.[8]

The life cycle of O. scapulalis begins during oviposition. Oviposition behavior has been found to be influenced by oviposition-deterring pheromones (ODPs), also known as host-marking pheromones (MPs), that emanate from egg masses laid by other conspecific females. A female that is ready to oviposit tends to reject hosts that are marked with MPs to favor unmarked hosts.[9]

Multiple studies have shown that there is a significant amount of sex ratio distortion that occurs in O. scapulalis. There are predicted to be two mechanisms of sex ratio distortion in this moth. One involves the bacteria Wolbachia (SRw+ trait) and another does not (SRw– trait). These traits may have been inherited from a common ancestor between O. furnicalis and O. scapulalis. The physiological reason as to why these traits induce a female biased sex ratio is unknown. It is suggested that the trait appearance is due to feminization, male killing at the larval stage, or meiotic drive.[10]

O. scapulalis is one of eight Ostrinia species that are found in Japan. There is an unusually low level of divergence between the adzuki bean borer and the other seven Ostrinia species. Specifically, O. orientalis and O. nubilalis have a low level of divergence from O. scapulalis. However, the adzuki bean borer is morphologically distinct from the other two. A recent study showed that there are major QTLs (quantitative trait loci) that are associated with the mating isolation between O. nubilalis and O. scapulalis. Specifically, the QTLs associated with pheromone characteristics were present on distinct linkage groups.[11] Additional studies are required to target other aspects of the moths' genetic architectures which may explain their reproductive isolation.

Other genetic differences may serve as the basis for other behavioral differences between the moths, such as the fact that O. scapulalis, a mugwort-race moth, emerges from the pupa 10 days earlier than maize-race moths.[12]

In most species, females are viewed as the more choosy sex with regards to the attributes of a given male due to a larger investment in a single gamete (the ova) by the female. However, evidence shows that O. scapulalis demonstrates behavior that would indicate the opposite being true. Females may pursue males (using species-specific pheromones) and males vary their investment in females of varying quality due to a significant cost of copulation to the male. This cost includes activities such as the production of sperm, territorial guarding, and parental care. Males were found to invest less in females that were older, smaller, or water deprived, indicating that the adzuki bean borer does change its reproductive investment due to the quality of the mate.

This alteration in reproductive investment also changes with respect to the age of the males. More modulation occurs with older males, demonstrating that mate-searching behavior is influenced by female condition and male age.[13] While older males were found to have higher rates of mating success than younger males, this was merely found to be due to a higher frequency of courtship and not reflective of female preference.[14]

Recently, gas chromatography has been used in order to identify the female sex chromosomes of O. scapulalis. The pheromone cocktail has been identified as a combination of the following compounds: (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (Z11–14:OAc) and (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (E11–14:OAc) in a ratio of 100:3.[15] In any single sex pheromone gland of the female moth, there is approximately 6.6 ng of Z11–14: OAc and 2.4 ng of E11–14:OAc present on average though it varies significantly.[16] It has been shown that variations in the ratio of one chemical to the other is largely influenced by genetic factors. Wind tunnel bioassays have shown that the binary blend of the two pheromones impact male behavior in the same way that a virgin female does, thus linking male behavior to the pheromones released by virgin females.[15]

The male adzuki bean borer is primarily known to produce ultrasounds during courtship. This helps with courtship since the ultrasound renders the female motionless making copulation easier. These emitted pulses continue for an extended period time at a frequency of 40 kHz. However, the amplitude of this modulation is significantly altered between different populations which has been especially correlated to the surrounding geography of the population.[8]

Outside of using ultrasound, there are other courtship behaviors observed. The male adzuki bean borer generally approaches from the rear of the female. As it does so, he fans his wings to appear larger. The male then vibrates the raised wings and extends his genital claspers. His abdomen is also extended at the targeted female. If the display is successful, the female accepts the male. If the display is not successful, the female may walk or fly away.[14]

The male adzuki bean borer provides nuptial gifts to the female in the form of proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and sugars that are included in the spermatophore. These nuptial gifts are known to significantly improve the female's reproductive output. For example, the protein is thought to help with egg production. The resources that are required of the male to do this generally are derived from larval sources. This proves to be at a substantial cost to the male. Since there is a trade off between investment in current reproduction and future reproduction, more investment in reproduction should be made towards the end of the moth's lifespan. As this idea predicts, older males were found to produce significantly larger spermatophores than younger males, thus indicating a greater reproductive effort.[14] In contrast, neither female fecundity nor longevity and longevity was affected by age.[14]

Polygyny is common in the adzuki bean borer. Males of the species mate multiply and are polygynous although the females of the species mate only once and are monandrous. Males follow the many traces of female pheromones and land close to females before performing a courtship ritual and mating (transferring spermatophores to the female). This results in the majority of parental care being provided by the female of the species since male desertion is common.[14]

O. scapulalis is able to produce ultrasonic sounds. The moth does so by rubbing the rough scales of its wings against other rough scales that are found in the midsection of its thorax. This action is key to producing sounds at various frequencies depending on how fast or slow the moth takes this action. The average frequency of sound generated is 40 kHz.[14]

These moths have tympanal ears sensitive to ultrasound. Tympanal organs consist of a chordotonal organ wrapped in tracheal epithelial tissue. The tympanum is a thin piece of transparent tissue that vibrates in response to ultrasonic sound.[17] The tympanal organ is tuned to the sounds that bat calls make. Additionally, this kind of hearing is less prevalent in bat free areas. This suggests that the ears of these moths have evolved to fend off insectivores including bats that emit ultrasonic sounds.[14]

Olfaction is primarily observed as a key factor in males. This is because males must be able to distinguish the female pheromones of its own species from those of other similar species. Male odorant receptors consist of olfactory sensilla.[18] These sensilla are small sensory organs that may protrude or lie under the cuticle of the moth. In the adzuki bean borer, they are specifically sensitive to pheromones.[19]

Diapause is considered as a delay in animal development due to multiple environmental factors. O. scapulalis is known to partake in this behavior. The larvae of this species diapause throughout winter in the upper portion of the stem of their host plant. The moth's main host plant in which they diapause is the mugwort although they also are found in the maize and hop stems. The reason for the preference for the location of diapause is the identity of parasitoids found in both. Their prevalences differ between maize and mugwort resulting in differing benefits during diapause.[20]