Biomimetic robots reveal flexible adjustment of sexual signalling in a wild invertebrate.

Studies of communication in primates, birds and fish show that signalling behaviour is often flexibly adjusted depending on the presence, characteristics and behavioural states of others. Such flexibility is likely important in competitive social contexts such as sexual signalling, where attractiveness is directly affected by rival behaviour. Although sexual displays are often sensitive to the presence and proximity of rivals, less is known about the effect of changes in rival signalling.