The extraordinary mating system of Zeus bugs (Heteroptera:Veliidae:Phoreticovelia sp.)

Arnqvist, Göran; Jones, Therésa M.; Elgar, Mark A.

doi:10.1071/zo06090

Cited by 10 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 25 publications

(41 reference statements)

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“…in species of the genera Aquarius (29) and Rheumatobates (109) and even within populations of Gerris incognitus (98). Arnqvist et al (9) suggested that two female forms of Phoreticovelia bugs may lead to evolutionary divergence: wingless females carry and nourish diminutive males on their backs, while winged forms do not. McPeek et al (77, 78) inferred that male claspers and corresponding female structures evolved synchronously in Enallagma damselflies and are important for species recognition, but not under sexual selection.…”

Section: Behavioral Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Freshwater Biodiversity and Aquatic Insect Diversification

Dijkstra

Monaghan²,

Pauls³

2014

Annu. Rev. Entomol.

212

176

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Inland waters cover less than one percent of Earth's surface, but harbor more than six percent of all insect species: nearly 100,000 species from 12 orders spend one or more life stages in freshwater. Little is known about how this remarkable diversity arose, although allopatric speciation and ecological adaptation are thought to be primary mechanisms. Freshwater habitats are exceptionally susceptible to environmental change, and exhibit marked ecological gradients. The amphibiotic lifestyles of aquatic insects result in complex contributions of extinction and allopatric and non-allopatric speciation in species diversification. In contrast to the lack of evolutionary studies, the ecology and habitat preferences of aquatic insects have been intensively studied, in part because of their widespread use as bio-indicators. The combination of phylogenetics with the extensive ecological data provides a promising avenue for future research, making aquatic insects highly suitable models for the study of ecological diversification.

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Section: Behavioral Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Freshwater Biodiversity and Aquatic Insect Diversification

Dijkstra

Monaghan²,

Pauls³

2014

Annu. Rev. Entomol.

212

176

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“…It has been hypothesized that flightlessness of females per se constrains the mating success of females (Bell, 1982; Roff, 1990; Denno, 1994). Indirect support for this hypothesis is provided in a wing‐dimorphic insect whose wingless females (but not winged females) produce a dorsal secretion (nuptial gift) to attract and retain males for mating (Arnqvist et al., 2007), and also by the high incidence of mating failures in species with flightless females (Harshman & Futuyma, 1985; Sharov et al., 1995; Rhainds et al., 2009). Female flightlessness may have a particularly severe depressing effect on mating success when species exploit ephemeral or structurally complex habitats (Denno, 1994).…”

Section: A Priori Hypotheses Derived From Theoretical Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Random mating encounters and low female mating success, particularly in sparse populations, have been hypothesized to lead to the evolution of adaptations enhancing mating success (Mosimann, 1958; Fauvergue et al., 1995; South & Kenward, 2001; Jonsson et al., 2003; Pearson et al., 2004). Females have indeed evolved extravagant physiological adaptations (Funk & Tallamy, 2000; Arnqvist et al., 2007; Kaufman, 2007) and a set of behaviours to increase their probability of mating, ranging from active foraging for mates (Wickman, 1986; Kaitala & Wiklund, 1994; Mendoza‐Cuenca & Maćias‐Ordóñez, 2009), aggressive interactions among conspecifics for access to males (Lynam et al., 1992; Papadopoulos et al., 2009), and selection of habitats most suitable for mate attraction (Shields, 1967; Scott, 1970; Rhainds et al., 1995a,b; Rhainds & Sadof, 2009). Females have further evolved covert behavioural adaptations to ensure that they mate at least once, e.g., indiscriminate mate choice of virgin females compared with mated females (Svensson et al., 1998; Kokko & Mappes, 2005; Peretti & Carrera, 2005; Kumano et al., 2009).…”

Section: A Priori Hypotheses Derived From Theoretical Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Female mating failures in insects

Rhainds¹

2010

Entomologia Exp Applicata

143

175

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Empirical and experimental studies reporting the probability that some females remain unmated in field populations of insects (defined herein as mating failures) are reviewed in more than 100 species. The techniques used to quantify mating failures in the field are summarized, as well as factors that influence the probability that females mate during their lifetime. The existing empirical data provide partial support for hypotheses generated by theoretical models, although the trends observed in field populations are far more diverse and complex than predictions derived from ecological theory, e.g., the effect of population density on female mating success at small and large spatial scales is opposite. Mating success of females increases with the ratio of males in the population, but the relation between emergence time, sex ratio, and female mating success is variable. Females have evolved a broad range of physiological and behavioural adaptations to reduce mating failures, and exhibit a flexible context‐dependent response to constraints limiting mating success. The large number of studies in Lepidoptera suggests a higher mating success in butterflies than moths. Examples of high rates of mating failure include species with gynogenous reproduction, long range migration, pre‐reproductive maturation, male‐biased sex ratio, acquisition of resources essential for reproduction, and female flightlessness. Species with sessile females that mate and oviposit near their emergence site provide model systems to investigate the causes and demographic consequences of female mating failure.

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“…The semi-aquatic Zeus bug, Phoreticovelia disparata, is extremely sexually size dimorphic (Andersen and Weir 2001). The smaller adult males ride on the back of females (using their legs to secure and maintain a position) and this pre-and post-mating association may last several days (Arnqvist et al 2007). The operational sex ratio is typically male biased (Arnqvist et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Size-assortative pairing across three developmental stages in the Zeus bug, Phoreticovelia disparata

Jones

Arnqvist

McNamara

et al. 2012

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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The mechanisms underlying size-assortative pairing have received considerable attention.Typically pairing is assumed to occur at, or just prior to, the adult phase of the life cycle. However, in many invertebrates males commence associations with juvenile females who are more than a single moult away from sexual maturity. These species are ideal to explore the importance of reproductive and survival benefits as mechanisms driving size assortative pairing. In the Zeus bug, Phoreticovelia disparata adult males are found riding on juvenile (4 th and 5 th instar) and adult females -a behaviour that is costly for females but has survival benefits for males. Using a combination of field collections and laboratory manipulations we show that pairing is size assortative both within and between female age classes and that riding males are smaller than nonriding males. In a series of mating trials we revealed that males attempt to ride any female, but that their riding success is dependent on female age. We also provide the first direct evidence of female resistance to male riding attempts in P. disparata. We propose that size assortative pairing arises through adaptations that have evolved to minimise the potential costs of sexual conflict. We suggest that the selective pressure on males to maximize survival benefits is sufficiently high that it outweighs the reproductive benefits of discriminating against 4 th instar females. Finally, given that female resistance is under direct selection in juvenile females it is likely to be the main form of selective pressure for adult females.

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The extraordinary mating system of Zeus bugs (Heteroptera:Veliidae:Phoreticovelia sp.)

Cited by 10 publications

References 25 publications

Freshwater Biodiversity and Aquatic Insect Diversification

Freshwater Biodiversity and Aquatic Insect Diversification

Female mating failures in insects

Size-assortative pairing across three developmental stages in the Zeus bug, Phoreticovelia disparata

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