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Data from: Lateralized courtship behaviors and mating success in Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae): A population-level study on maize plants under greenhouse conditions

Abbas, Sohail1; Alam, Aleena1; Ahmad, Bilal1; Abbas, Muneer2; Qin, Weibo1; Haichao, Wu1; Cong, Zhang1; Yunliang, Ji1; Hong Yuan, Dong1; Ali Khan, Khalid3; A. Ghramh, Hamed3; Ali, Jamin1; Burroni, Nora4; Schilthuizen, Menno5; Ri Zhao, Chen1

Published Aug 14, 2025 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.zkh1893nc

Data files

Abstract

Lateralization, defined as the asymmetric organization of brain functions, is a widely recognized phenomenon observed in an increasing number of insect species. However, knowledge remains limited for Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée), particularly regarding population-level courtship lateralization on maize plants in greenhouse environments. This study investigates the lateralized mating behaviors of O. furnacalis on maize plants in controlled greenhouse conditions. Our findings reveal distinct differences in two population-level lateralized mating behaviors (left and right-biased approaches and 180º turnings), demonstrating for the first time the influence of the host plant environment. Male moths consistently exhibited a right-biased approach and left-biased 180º turning behavior toward the female during copulation, which was associated with a reduced number of mating attempts. In response, female moths exhibited decreased rejection rates and increased receptivity to right-sided approaches and left-biased 180º turnings for intromissive copulation. Males performing ultrasonic courtship songs with left-biased 180º turning, reduced female rejections, and lower courtship aggression achieved significantly higher mating success than right-biased 180º turnings for intromissive copulation. These findings provide the first empirical evidence of host plant-mediated lateralized courtship behaviors in O. furnacalis under greenhouse conditions. They offer novel insight into the adaptive value of behavioral lateralization and highlight its relevance in naturalistic settings. This work advances insect behavioral ecology and has potential implications for developing behavior-based pest control strategies.