The Mating Call of Isoperla

The mating call of Isoperla bipartita is described. The male call is composed of 3–10 groups, each of 1–4 rubs. The times between rubs average 89.52msec (between first and second), 43.52msec (between second and third) and 35.28 msec (between third and fourth). The time between two groups averages 180.75 msec and varies from 142 to 290msec. The female answer is composed of a beat and rub repeated at 479.09msec intervals on average and interspersed between the male call groups between 94 and 184msec (mean = 118.11msec) after the last rub of the male group. The I. bipartita call can be considered as a ‘complex and modified pattern’ because the male produces calls of 1–4 rubs by group and the female answers overlapping the male call by percussion-rubbing-produced signals. Moreover, it is different from other studied Iberian Isoperla calls, being probably a species-specific behavioural pattern.