Condition-dependent spermatophore size is correlated with male's age in a bushcricket (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae)

During mating, male bushcrickets transfer a spermatophore that consists of a sperm-containing ampulla and a product of the accessory glands, the spermatophylax, which females directly ingest. In the present study, we demonstrate male spermatophore allocation in the bushcricket Poecilimon zimmeri. Ma...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological journal of the Linnean Society 2009-02, Vol.96 (2), p.354-360
Main Authors: LEHMANN, GERLIND U.C, LEHMANN, ARNE W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Biological evolution
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution
Insecta
Invertebrates
male quality
nuptial feeding
nuptial gift
Orthoptera
paternal investment
Phaneropteridae
Poecilimon
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Summary:During mating, male bushcrickets transfer a spermatophore that consists of a sperm-containing ampulla and a product of the accessory glands, the spermatophylax, which females directly ingest. In the present study, we demonstrate male spermatophore allocation in the bushcricket Poecilimon zimmeri. Males of this species show condition-dependent spermatophore investment. This investment depended upon the age at first mating of males, with older individuals transferring larger spermatophores than younger ones of the same body mass. Independently of age, heavier males transfer larger spermatophores, but the size of males (as measured by femur length) was not a good predictor. Heavier males allocate a lower proportion of their mass to spermatophores and reach their maximal investment point earlier than less heavy males. Spermatophylax production levelled off to a species specific maximum earlier than that of sperm investment (measured as ampulla mass), suggesting that males face high levels of sperm competition.
ISSN:0024-4066
1095-8312
DOI:10.1111/j.1095-8312.2008.01129.x