Life history, mating behavior, and courtship songs of the endemic Hawaiian Anomalochrysa maclachlani (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 1020-1026 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurice J. Tauber ◽  
Catherine A. Tauber ◽  
Ronald R. Hoy ◽  
Paul J. Tauber

Although Anomalochrysa maclachlani shares many aspects of its life history and reproductive behavior with other green lacewings, it is atypical in several respects. (i) The preoviposition period is long, and it remains constant at temperatures from 21 through 26.7 °C. (ii) Fertility, which was 100% at 23.4 °C or lower, drops to 16.6% at 26.7 °C. (iii) Females oviposit clusters of about 25 unstalked eggs every 1–7 days, (iv) Both sexes produce loud clicking sounds during courtship; clicking frequently occurs in duet and is associated with anterior-directed flicks of the wings, (v) Females and males may mate repeatedly within several hours. The unusual features of A. maclachlani's reproductive behavior suggest a mode of sexual selection different from that in other chrysopids. Its loud courtship songs and those of other Hawaiian insects (Drosophila, crickets, plant hoppers) represent striking cases of parallel evolution among diverse groups of endemic fauna.

2012 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 776-796 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHARLES S. HENRY ◽  
STEPHEN J. BROOKS ◽  
PETER DUELLI ◽  
JAMES B. JOHNSON ◽  
MARTA M. WELLS ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Rachel Olzer ◽  
Rebecca L. Ehrlich ◽  
Justa L. Heinen-Kay ◽  
Jessie Tanner ◽  
Marlene Zuk

Sex and reproduction lie at the heart of studies of insect behavior. We begin by providing a brief overview of insect anatomy and physiology, followed by an introduction to the overarching themes of parental investment, sexual selection, and mating systems. We then take a sequential approach to illustrate the diversity of phenomena and concepts behind insect reproductive behavior from pre-copulatory mate signalling through copulatory sperm transfer, mating positions, and sexual conflict, to post-copulatory sperm competition, and cryptic female choice. We provide an overview of the evolutionary mechanisms driving reproductive behavior. These events are linked by the economic defendability of mates or resources, and how these are allocated in each sex. Under the framework of economic defendability, the reader can better understand how sexual antagonistic behaviors arise as the result of competing optimal fitness strategies between males and females.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gao Ke ◽  
Michiel van Wijk ◽  
Zoe Clement ◽  
Martijn Egas ◽  
Astrid Groot

Abstract Background Ever since Darwin, evolutionary biologists have studied sexual selection driving differences in appearance and behaviour between males and females. An unchallenged paradigm in such studies is that one sex (usually the male) signals its quality as a mate to the other sex (usually the female), who is choosy in accepting a partner. Here, we argue that in polygamous species these roles may change dynamically with the mating status of males and females, depending on direct reproductive costs and benefits of multiple matings, and on sperm competition. We test this hypothesis using a polygamous moth species, as in moths not males but females are the signalers and males are the responders. Results We found that multiple matings are beneficial as well as costly for both sexes. Specifically, the number of matings did not affect the longevity of males or females, but when paired with a new virgin mate every night for five nights, only 67% of the males and 14% of the females mated successfully in all five nights. The female’s reproductive output increased with multiple matings, although when paired with a new virgin male every night, additional matings beyond 3 decreased her reproductive output, so that the Bateman gradient for females fit a quadratic model better than a linear model. The male’s reproductive success was positively affected by the number of matings and a linear regression line best fit the data. Simulations of the effect of sperm competition showed that increasing last-male paternity increases the steepness of the male Bateman gradient and thus the male’s relative fitness gain from additional mating. Irrespective of last-male paternity value, the female Bateman gradient is steeper than the male one for up to three matings. Conclusion Our results suggest that choosiness in moths may well change throughout the mating season, with males being more choosy early in the season and females being more choosy after having mated at least three times. This life-history perspective on the costs and benefits of multiple matings for both sexes sheds new light on sexual selection forces acting on sexual signals and responses.


1988 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norma E. Sanchez ◽  
Jerome A. Onsager

AbstractA combination of published techniques provided point estimates of life history parameters for two natural field populations of Melanoplus sanguinipes (F.) in crested wheatgrass pastures. Stage-specific survival rates averaged 0.4798, 0.2261, 0.7628, and 0.6903 for egg, instars I–III combined, instar IV, and instar V, respectively. Daily survival rates of adults averaged 0.9702, but were slightly lower for females than for males. Estimated duration of nymphal instars averaged 8.4 days, the adult preoviposition period averaged 13.3 days, and adult longevity averaged 26.7 and 36.3 days in the two populations. Oviposition rates were estimated for up to four successive ovipositions, and net replacement rates of populations also were estimated. Neither population replaced itself, indicating that potential capacities for increase were not approached under conditions of these studies.


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