Data for: The strength of sexual signals predicts same-sex pairing in two Coptotermes termites

Same-sex sexual behavior (SSB) is an enigma in behavioral ecology as it does not result in reproduction. Proximately, the effect of sexual signals on SSB could be distinct between signal receivers and senders. For receivers, the absence of sexual signals leads to smaller phenotypic sex differences, leading to frequent accidental SSB between receivers. Alternatively, for senders, sexual signals could help locate another sender, enhancing intentional SSB. Here, we demonstrate this link between sex pheromone signaling and the frequency of same-sex pairing in two Coptotermes termites that use the same chemical as sex pheromones but in different quantities. In termites, mating pairs engage in tandem runs, where a female emits sex pheromones to guide a male as they move together in searching a potential nest site. So, females are signal senders, and males are signal receivers for sexual communication. We found that female-female tandems were more stable in C. formosanus, whose females produce..., , , # The strength of sexual signals predicts same-sex paring in termites

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.6t1g1jx67](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.6t1g1jx67)

This repository provides access to the data and source code used for the manuscript.

This study compared the same-sex tandem running behavior between two termite species (*Coptotermes formosanus* and *Coptotermes gestroi*) that use the same chemicals for tandem runs but have them in different quantities.

We recorded movement patterns of termite pairs, either in combination with Female-Male, Female-Female, or Male-Male, by using the tracking software, UMATracker. Also, measured the body length of termites and the size of the arena, using the Python program video_scale_BL.py. All these raw data were stored in the data_raw folder.

First, run the format_trajectories.R to format data for further statistical analysis and data visualization. Formatted data will be stored in the data_fmt folder. Then, run the output.R to obtain all outputs...