Multi-modal communication signals in select sexual communication systems of insects and spiders

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I propose to study sexual communication signals and systems in 5 species of insects and spiders that appear to hold clues to outstanding questions in arthropod communication ecology. These include the relationship between signal type and signaling environment (Objective 1: Does web architecture affect characteristics of vibratory signals in spiders?), the means of mate manipulation in aggressive mating systems (Objective 2: What are the means of putting a prospective mate into trance?), and involvement of microbes as biotic communication signals in apterous, primitive or ancient insect communicators such as thysanurans (Objective 3: Do thysanurans deploy microbial communication signals?). The study or re-investigation of communication signals in Strepsiptera (Objective 4: What are the communication signals of the strepsipteran Xenos peckii?) or lymantriid moths (Objective 5: Does gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, engage in bioacoustic communication?) is proposed here because their communication systems are completely unknown (Strepsiptera) or likely more complex than previously concluded (lymantriid moths).