Hi Deep Look and KQED Science Fans, Ever heard of green lacewings? These insects play a critical role in helping gardeners and growers because their larvae have a voracious appetite for aphids and other pests. Lacewings have glassy wings and shimmering eyes, but the real asset they use to attract a partner is good vibes! In order to bring the next generation of lacewings into the world, these delicate insects first have to produce strong vibrations to find a mate. So, check out what’s really causing that leaf to shake; it's not the wind! We hope you enjoy this week’s newsletter and video about lacewings and how they find their perfect love match.
Green lacewings have babies that are prized as pest control. But before they can mate, they have to vibrate their bodies, making noises like purring cats or growling stomachs.
When a lacewing is single and ready to mingle, it shakes its abdomen with such force that it causes vibrations on a leaf. If a potential mate feels the love vibes, it will respond with a shake of its own.
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🧬Male and female lacewings of the same species only mate after they receive the same type of vibrational signals from a mate. The type of vibrational signal is encoded in their DNA. 🔊The vibration made by a lacewing is called tremulation. It’s a form of sound production in some insects, which involves low-frequency vibrations transmitted through a surface like a leaf. 💕Generating sound through low-frequency vibrations helps to attract a mate, but not predators. 💋Even when lacewings find each other, their vibrations don’t guarantee they’re a match. To find out if they are, lacewings touch antennae and taste each other.
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Name That Critter
This insect vibrates its abdominal muscles to call out to potential mates on grapevines. They are the main transmitters of Pierce’s disease in California’s world-renowned wine regions of Napa and Sonoma and along the state’s coast. What is it? Find the answer at the bottom of this newsletter.
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We hope you enjoyed this week’s newsletter. Thank you for your support! Until next week! - KQED’s Deep Look and Science Teams Deep Look is KQED’s award-winning wildlife video series that reveals the tiny dramas playing out in the natural world. We’re a member-supported YouTube series from KQED and PBS Digital Studios. Learn more. KQED’s award-winning science coverage brings you the latest climate, environment and health news from the Bay Area and beyond. KQED Science is supported in part by the members of KQED. Learn more.
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Blue-green sharpshooter! Blue-green sharpshooter insects are beautiful, but they transmit a devastating disease that kills grapevines. When it's time to mate, they shake their abdomens to make strange calls that – when amplified in a lab – sound like a clucking chicken, a howling monkey or a motorcycle revving up. Now scientists have found a way to use their songs against them. Find out more in our video: Sharpshooter Insects’ Sexy Vibrations Spell Trouble in the Vineyard
