Volume 113, March 2016, Pages 93–98
Highlights
- •
- We postulate that ectoparasites may eavesdrop on begging signals for host detection.
- •
- This is a never considered but potentially generalized cost of begging behaviours.
- •
- There are well-known examples of eavesdropping on host auditory cues by parasites.
- •
- The use of auditory cues for host detection offers some advantages to ectoparasites.
- •
- This may help us to understand evolution of begging and parent–offspring conflicts.
Honesty
of offspring begging behaviours is the keystone to understanding the
evolution of parent–offspring communication. Three main begging costs
have been traditionally advocated that ensure the reliability of
offspring signalling: energy expenditure, loss of inclusive fitness and
attraction of predators. Here, we propose that ectoparasites may
eavesdrop on begging signals, especially acoustic signals, for host
detection, a never considered but potentially generalized cost of
begging that will constrain the evolution of exaggerated begging
displays. Ectoparasitic insects possess a diversity of auditory systems
for intraspecific communication that may be used to detect begging calls
of host offspring. The use of auditory cues for host detection offers
some advantages to ectoparasites, particularly in environments in which
long-distance detection of hosts is necessary. There are well-known
examples of interspecific eavesdropping on host auditory signals by
parasites that include parasitoid flies attracted to calling crickets
and cicadas, and frog-biting midges and mosquitoes attracted to frog
calls. Eavesdropping on begging signals may have evolved in those
parasites searching for hosts that display begging behaviours, which
include not only birds but also mammals and some reptiles and insects
with parental care of juveniles. Considering begging costs due to
detection by ectoparasites may help us understand the reliability, and
therefore the evolution, of signals of need and parent–offspring
communication.
Keywords
- acoustic communication;
- auditory cues;
- begging costs;
- ectoparasite attraction;
- honest signalling;
- host location mechanisms;
- interspecific eavesdropping;
- nestling begging calls;
- parent–offspring conflict;
- phonotaxis
Copyright © 2016 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
