Behavior scores for focal embiids (Haploembia tarsalis, H. solieri, Oligotoma nigra) interacting in dyads
Description
Two hypotheses tested: Behavioral Syndrome of Social Distancing vs Parasite Trigger Hypothesis. Testing if Haploembia tarsalis focal insects react to parasitized or non-parasitized individuals, placed in dyads in a burrow arena, in the same. They were analyzed for presence of a gregarine parasite, which commonly infects them in the field. These asexual embiids did show social distancing as can be seen in the data, where all individuals retreat and attempt to escape from each other irrespective of parasitism status. Two relate species were tested as comparison, and they show typical embiopteran behaviors of sitting together (gregaraious).. In the data set, the values show a summary score reflecting how a focal insect reacted to another in a 10 minute trial. Every time they touched each other, their behaviors were scored for 10 s following the touch. Retreat and Locomotion reflect agitation and are scored as negative values, the other acts (Sit Alone, Sit Nearby, and Total Spin) are neutral to gregarious and are positive values.
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Steps to reproduce
Insects are collected in the field, and adult females of Haploembia tarsalis, H. solieri and Oligotoma nigra are selected to interact in dyads in a small burrow carved into wood. Interactions videoed for at least 10 minutes and behavior of a focal insect is scored for 10 seconds after they touch each other (at least 5 touches needed for trial to be included). Behavioral acts are Retreat (jolt, bolt back, press against the edge, explore the edge), Locomotion (Slowly Move Toward or Away), Sit Alone, Sit Nearby, Spin silk (alone, near or together with the other). Modifiers are used to convert the proportion of the counts to indicate the intensity of the acts (-3 for Retreat to +4 for spinning together). Aggression (-4, mandible flare) was seen but was so rare it was not included in the dataset. Within the 10 s, behavioral acts were counted as having occurred (1) or not (0). Individuals are tested for parasitism with PCR and a primer for Apicomplexa, which picks up the gregarine parasites. A 0 in the identification name means no parasite, a 1 in the name means not parasitized. Ex. Ht0Ht1 = a trial with a non-parasitized H. tarsalis and a parasitized H. tarsalis. Haploembia tarsalis was also tested with H. solieri to see how they respond to another species and if they also retreat in that case (social distancing). Oligotoma nigra was scored in conspecific pairs to demonstrate how the more typical embiopterans behave, as they are known as an order of gregarious insects. The data are in the same form as for the haploembiids and serves as a comparison allowing detection of social distancing. See Arias et al. 2024. Environmental Entomology, 53( 6): 921–934 for details of the behavioral acts for these insects, and the acts that we also scored here.