Spermatophore size as determinant of paternity in an arctiid moth (Uthetheisa ornatrix)

Female Utetheisa ornatrix exercise postcopulatory mate selection, favoring sperm of larger males. Larger males also produce larger spermatophores, raising the question whether males are selected on the basis of body size or the size of their spermatophore. We here present evidence, based on matings...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 1994-07, Vol.91 (15), p.7081-7084
Main Authors: LaMunyon, C.W, Eisner, T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alleles
ANATOMIA ANIMAL
ANATOMIE ANIMALE
Animal behavior
Animal reproduction
Animals
Arctiidae
Average linear density
Body Constitution
Butterflies & moths
COMPORTAMIENTO SEXUAL
COMPORTEMENT SEXUEL
DIMENSION
Ecology
ESPERMATOZOO
Female
Female animals
Lepidoptera
Male
Mass
Mating behavior
Moths
Moths - physiology
Ova
PADRE
PERE
Reproduction
Spermatophores
Spermatozoa
Spermatozoa - cytology
SPERMATOZOIDE
UTETHEISA
Utetheisa ornatrix
Virgin females
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Summary:Female Utetheisa ornatrix exercise postcopulatory mate selection, favoring sperm of larger males. Larger males also produce larger spermatophores, raising the question whether males are selected on the basis of body size or the size of their spermatophore. We here present evidence, based on matings in which males were induced to deliver spermatophores disproportionate in size to body mass, that the determinant is spermatophore mass.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.91.15.7081