The function of the female mimic signal in Enchenopa binotata treehoppers

Some animals mimic behaviors or signals of conspecifics while courting. Sexual mimicry is beneficial when it increases reproductive success. We explored the function of a novel form of sexual mimicry in the courtship display of male Enchenopa treehoppers. Males produce plant-borne vibrational advertisement signals, to which females respond. Interestingly, males also produce a female mimic signal, and we experimentally tested its function. First, with a female priming hypothesis, we tested if this signal would increase female response. However, females were as likely to respond to playbacks with or without this. Second, with a male inhibition hypothesis, we tested if the mimic signal would inhibit competing males. However, males were as likely to produce displays after playbacks with or without the mimic signal. Third, with a self-boost hypothesis, we tested if males performing the mimic signal would show higher signaling effort. Males that produced the mimic signal had higher signal rat..., We used laser vibrometry to record the signaling displays of male treehoppers and the responses of females to artificial playbacks transmitted through the plant. , , # The function of the female mimic signal in Enchenopa binotata treehoppers

## Description of the data and file structure

FILE: Female female-like_signal function

OVERALL DESCRIPTION:

This file contains the data for the experimental test of the female-like signal in Enchenopa binotata treehoppers. Both males and females were presented with different stimuli (treatments) and we noted if they responded -and how- to stimuli of variable composition (some contained the female signal, not did not, etc.).

COLUMN EXPLANATION

* Recording_individual_ID: A unique identification code for each individual
* species: The species of each treehopper in the Enchenopa binotata complex. Individuals were either from the 'sp-low' or 'sp-high'
* sex: Whether the individual was a mature male or female
* field.site: A three-letter code for the field site in which animals were collected, in South Eastern Wisconsin, USA.
* year: The year in which the individual was collected and recorded
* tem...