Seasonal resource value and male size influence male aggressive interactions in the leaf footed cactus bug, Narnia femorata

Abstract

In animal contests, resource value (the quality of a given resource) and resource holding potential (a male's absolute fighting ability) are two important factors determining the level of engagement and outcome of contests. Few studies have tested these factors simultaneously. Here, we investigated whether natural, seasonal differences in cactus phenology (fruit quality) influence interactions between males in the leaf-footed cactus bug, Narnia femorata (Hemiptera: Coreidae). We also considered whether males were more likely to interact when they were similar in size, as predicted by theory. Finally, we examined if male size relative to the size of an opponent predicted competitive success. We found that males have more interactions on cactus with high value ripe fruit, as we predicted. Further, we found that males that were closer in size were more likely to interact, and larger males were more likely to become dominant.

Phylogenomics of the leaf-footed bug subfamily Coreinae (Hemiptera: Coreidae): applicability of ultraconserved elements at shallower depths

“…2012. Fighting behaviors are also variable in species that exhibit male-male competition; 95 e.g., some species grapple end-to-end (e.g., Narnia femorata; Nolen et al 2017), while others 96 kick, flip, and squeeze one another face-to-face (e.g., Mictis profana; (Tatarnic and Spence 97 2013). Aside from their diverse morphology, Coreinae are well known for their odious alarm 98 pheromones (Aldrich andBlum 1978, Leal andKadosawa 1992), paternal care in Phyllomorpha 99 (e.g., García-González et al 2003), and gregariousness in nymphs (e.g., Aldrich and Blum 1978, 100 Flanagan 1994, Miyatake 1995).…”

Males that drop a sexually selected weapon grow larger testes

“…; Nolen et al. ). Previous observational findings suggested a trade‐off might be present between weapons and testes in a wild population of another coreid species (Somjee et al.…”

“…In escalated competitions, males kick and squeeze each other with their hind limbs until one male retreats (Nolen et al. ). Hind limbs in this species appear to be costly and condition‐dependent traits (Miller et al.…”

“…N. femorata possesses sexually dimorphic hind femurs ) that are used as weapons in male contests (Procter et al 2012). In escalated competitions, males kick and squeeze each other with their hind limbs until one male retreats (Nolen et al 2017). Hind limbs in this species appear to be costly and condition-dependent traits Allen and Miller 2017), and larger males are more successful in male-male contests (Procter et al 2012;Nolen et al 2017).…”

Seasonal Effects on the Population, Morphology and Reproductive Behavior of Narnia femorata (Hemiptera: Coreidae)

“…Females prefer the odor of males that develop on cactus fruit and are even more likely to choose males when red ripe fruit is present [34,35]. Males are more likely to engage in competition for cactus territory with red fruit than those territories with unripe green fruit or no fruit at all [51]. Our aim for this part of the study was to determine the extent to which female readiness to mate and male mating attempts changed over time in insects originating from the wild, not including predicted changes due to age and mating status [52].…”