Relative fertility in hybridization experiments using three song types of the held crickets Gryllus integer and Gryllus rubens

Abstract

Species-specific calling songs of male field crickets attract conspecific females. Each wing closure results in a pulse of sound, and the song is composed of pulses arranged in species-specific patterns of short chirps, long continuous trills, or intermediates between chirps and trills. California, [USA] Gryllus integer has a song with pulses of sound delivered in groups of two or three to produce a chirp, but in central Texas, the G. integer song has a variable number of pulses delivered in long continuous trills. Gryllus rubens occurs from eastern Texas to Florida and has a trilling song with a slower pulse rate than that of Texas G. integer. Identification of these three groups in the laboratory was confirmed by recording and analyzing songs for California and Texas G. integer and G. rubens males. All possible crosses were performed in the laboratory between conspecifics and heterospecifics. No progeny resulted in California G. integer and Texas G. integer or California G. integer and G. rubens crosses. Hybrids were produced in G. rubens and Texas G. integer crosses. Results suggest that California and Texas G. integer are different species, or at least populations geographically separated enough to result in reproductive incompatibility and different song types. Texas G. integer and G. rubens are apparently closely related species.