A variety of models have been used in mating bioassays of insects to assess the contribution of chemical and visual signals to mate location and mate selection. Although the use of such ‘dummies’ has had varying degrees of success, some insect species refuse to accept simplistic models. In the present study, we developed a 3D-printed model to explore whether more realistic models will be more successful than simplistic models in mating assays of difficult to manipulate species such as the flea beetle Altica fragariae. We ran five experiments to test (1) whether males could discriminate between males and females solely based on differences in cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), (2) whether males use shape or (3) color to choose mates, and (4) whether males can discriminate between 3D-printed models and freshly killed beetles either with or (5) without legs and antennae. The results of these experiments confirmed that male A. fragariae preferred models coated with CHCs of females over that of male CHCs, providing strong support for the role of CHCs in mate choice in Altica. We also showed that males use both shape and color in mate selection, and that males are capable of discriminating between the models and real beetle specimens. Together, the results indicate that 3D-printed models can provide a feasible and cost-effective method for mating studies of insects.

昆虫交配生物测定中已使用多种模型来评估化学和视觉信号对交配位置和交配选择的贡献。尽管使用这种“假人”取得了不同程度的成功，但某些昆虫物种拒绝接受简单的模型。在本研究中，我们开发了3D打印的模型，以探索在更难以操纵的物种（例如跳蚤甲虫Altica fragariae）的交配分析中，更现实的模型是否比简单的模型更成功。我们进行了五个实验，以测试（1）男性是否可以仅根据表皮碳氢化合物（CHCs）的差异来区分男性和女性；（2）男性是否使用形状或（3）颜色选择伴侣，以及（4）男性是否可以区分3D打印模型和有或没有腿和触角的（5）刚杀死的甲虫。这些实验的结果证实，男性一个。fragariae优选涂覆有雌超过男性氯化烃的氯化烃模型，对于氯化烃的在择偶中的作用提供了强有力的支持跳甲。我们还表明，雄性在选择配偶时同时使用形状和颜色，并且雄性能够区分模型和真实的甲虫标本。总之，结果表明3D打印的模型可以为昆虫的交配研究提供一种可行且具有成本效益的方法。