长颚斗蟋长翅和短翅型雄成虫营养物质的积累与分配差异

【目的】翅多型雄虫在繁殖方面的能量投入与雌虫相异,这种差异可能会导致雄虫飞行与繁殖权衡的生理机制发生改变。因此,本研究旨在探究翅二型长颚斗蟋Velarifictorus aspersus雄成虫在营养物质积累与分配方面是否存在飞行与繁殖的权衡关系。【方法】选取长颚斗蟋V. aspersus头幅相近的长翅和短翅型雄成虫,对羽化后7 d内两型雄成虫的体重的动态变化进行了比较,利用分光光度计法测定了两型雄成虫虫体及飞行和繁殖器官内蛋白质、总脂和糖原含量。【结果】长颚斗蟋V. aspersus长翅雄成虫在羽化后前7 d内体重保持不变,而短翅雄成虫的体重显著增加。羽化当日长、短翅雄成虫体内蛋白质含量分别为46.5±2.7和42.3±1.9 mg,二者差异显著,且长翅雄成虫羽化后体内蛋白质含量的增加速率明显高于短翅雄成虫;而羽化当日两型雄成虫体内总脂含量无显著差异,但羽化后第5和7天短翅雄成虫体内总脂含量均显著高于长翅雄成虫。成虫羽化后7 d内长翅雄成虫飞行肌内蛋白质和总脂含量均显著高于短翅雄成虫,羽化当日两型雄成虫附腺内的蛋白质与总脂含量无显著差异,但从第3天开始,短翅雄成虫附腺内蛋白质和总脂含量均显著高于长翅雄成虫。【结论】 结果说明翅二型长颚斗蟋V. aspersus雄成虫体内营养物质的积累与分配方面存在飞行与繁殖的权衡关系。     

食物胁迫对翅二型丽斗蟋飞行肌和繁殖发育的影响

前期研究表明,在食物充足的条件下,翅二型丽斗蟋雌成虫长、短翅型间存在着资源投入和收益的权衡关系(trade-off);而雄成虫长短翅型间不存在此类权衡关系。在自然条件下,昆虫可能遭受食物缺乏的胁迫,因而进一步就食物胁迫对丽斗蟋飞行肌和繁殖发育的影响进行了研究。结果表明,在食物胁迫的条件下,长翅雌虫仍维持飞行肌的发育,但繁殖发育受到显著的抑制;而短翅雌虫飞行肌显著降解,繁殖发育亦维持在较高水平。说明即使是营养缺乏时,其雌成虫长、短翅型也依然存在资源配置的差异,具飞行肌和繁殖发育的权衡关系。长翅雄虫飞行肌的重量与食物充足组并无显著差异,但精巢的干重显著降低;而短翅雄虫在食物胁迫条件下飞行肌显著降解,但其精巢重量与食物充足组并无显著差异。可以认为,丽斗蟋雄虫的长、短翅型间也存在飞行肌和繁殖发育的权衡关系。     

外用保幼激素与早熟素对丽斗蟋翅二型个体飞行与生殖发育间生理权衡的影响（英文）

为探讨丽斗蟋Velarifictorus ornatus翅二型个体飞行与生殖发育间生理权衡的内分泌控制机理, 本研究调查了外用保幼激素Ⅲ(JH-III)与早熟素Ⅰ(P-I)对丽斗蟋翅二型个体飞行肌与生殖发育的影响。结果表明： 成虫羽化后当日分别注射1, 5, 10和25 μg保幼激素7 d后, 显著促进了丽斗蟋长翅雌虫卵巢发育, 卵巢重量分别从对照组的16.8±11.4 mg/♀增加到43.9±10.7, 33.6±14.0, 56.8±7.6和 39.3±30.7 mg/♀; 但对卵巢内怀卵量无显著影响。相反, 外用保幼激素则诱发飞行肌降解, 1, 5和10 μg JH-III处理组飞行肌重量分别下降为12.9±4.7, 11.7±4.8和8.8±0.8 mg/♀, 显著低于对照组飞行肌重量(17.7±1.6 mg)。对短翅雌虫注射P-I时, 当注射的剂量超过50 μg/♀时, 能够显著抑制卵巢发育, 而低于50 μg/♀时则对卵巢发育无明显影响。外用JH-III对丽斗蟋长翅雄虫飞行肌、 精巢、 附腺的发育无明显影响; 外用P-I对短翅型雄虫精巢与附腺的发育也无明显影响。因此, 丽斗蟋翅二型雌虫与雄虫的飞行肌与生殖器官的内分泌控制机理可能存在差异。     

丽斗蟋翅二型雌虫飞行肌和卵巢发育间的资源分配差异

丽斗蟋Velarifictorus ornatus具有明显的翅二型现象, 长翅型与短翅型雌虫的卵巢和飞行肌存在着生理权衡。本研究分别应用蒽酮比色法、 硫代磷酸香草醛法、 考马斯亮蓝染液对羽化后10 d内两型雌虫飞行肌与卵巢内糖原、 总脂及蛋白质含量进行了定量分析。结果表明： 成虫羽化后10 d内, 两型雌虫体重无明显差异(P>0.05), 但短翅型雌虫怀卵量明显多于长翅型雌虫, 而人工脱翅能够促进长翅型雌虫怀卵量增加(P<0.05)。短翅型雌虫飞行肌内蛋白质、 糖原及总脂含量在成虫羽化后10 d内无明显变化, 但长翅型雌虫飞行肌内蛋白质在成虫羽化后3 d时达到最大值564.4±87.5 μg/♀, 糖原与总脂含量分别于羽化后第5天达到最大值85.2±21.7 μg/♀和5 284.7±1 267.4 μg/♀。然后开始下降, 各实验处理天数内, 长翅型雌虫飞行肌内蛋白质、 糖原及总脂含量都显著多于短翅型雌虫(P<0.05)。相反, 各处理天数内, 短翅型雌虫卵巢内蛋白质、 糖原及总脂含量则明显多于长翅型雌虫(P<0.05), 同时虫龄对蛋白质、 糖原及总脂在两型雌虫飞行肌与卵巢内分配也产生明显影响(P<0.05)。人工脱翅能够促进长翅型雌虫卵巢内蛋白质、 糖原及总脂含量增加, 同时诱导飞行肌内蛋白质、 糖原及总脂含量降低, 其中总脂含量在脱翅后10 d时降为2 394.9±1 461.8 μg/♀, 只有最大值的一半, 而与短翅型雌虫相似(P>0.05), 表明总脂为丽斗蟋飞行的主要能源物质。外用保幼激素Ⅲ能够促进长翅型雌虫卵巢内蛋白质、 糖原及总脂含量增加(P<0.05), 但对飞行肌内三者含量无明显影响(P>0.05), 外用早熟素Ⅰ对短翅型雌虫卵巢内蛋白质、 糖原及总脂含量亦无明显影响(P>0.05)。上述结果表明, 丽斗蟋长翅型雌虫首先将获得的资源用于发育飞行所需的飞行肌, 短翅型雌虫则首先将所获得的资源用于发育繁殖所需的卵巢, 但长翅型雌虫飞行肌与卵巢间的资源分配方式受保幼激素的影响。     

环境因素对长颚斗蟋翅型分化的影响

长颚斗蟋具有明显的翅二型现象。比较长颚斗蟋不同翅型成虫的形态差异,结果表明其短翅型成虫除翅已明显退化外,与长翅型成虫并无其他形态差异。为探究环境因素与长颚斗蟋翅型分化的关系,就光周期、温度及密度对其翅型分化的影响进行了研究。结果表明,短光周期会抑制其长翅型的形成,而LD16∶8h的长光周期则促进长翅个体的分化,但非自然条件的长光周期及全明或全暗条件与上述结论并不一致。变化光周期亦会影响其翅型分化,而随着改变光周期的时间及方向的不同,影响作用亦不相同。在孵化后第20天及40天经历光周期的趋长变化会促进其长翅化;而在孵化后第20天经历光周期的趋短变化则会抑制其长翅化,第30天转移却有促进作用。此外,低温(20℃)条件诱导长颚斗蟋短翅化,高温(25℃,30℃)则促进长翅型的分化。单独饲养时,LD12∶12h与LD16∶8h条件下的若虫均羽化为短翅型成虫,当密度增加至2或5头/容器时,成虫的长翅率均明显增加,说明高密度亦是长翅型个体出现的重要诱因。     

长颚斗蟋长翅和短翅型雌成虫飞行肌发育、生殖力及寿命的比较

为探讨长颚斗蟋Velarifictorus asperses (Walker)翅型分化的生态学意义, 对室内饲养获得的长翅和短翅型雌成虫飞行肌和卵巢的发育, 以及长、 短翅型雌成虫的生殖力和寿命进行了比较研究。结果表明： 羽化当日, 长翅型雌成虫飞行肌重38.68±9.15 mg, 显著高于短翅型的17.53±4.44 mg （P<0.05）; 而二者卵巢重量无显著差异（P>0.05）, 分别为4.69±1.04 mg和4.88±0.97 mg。羽化后8 d内, 长翅型雌成虫飞行肌重量增加了48.9%, 短翅型雌成虫飞行肌重量无明显增加; 而短翅型雌成虫卵巢的重量增加至93.5±11.7 mg, 约为长翅型雌成虫的4.5倍。短翅型雌成虫的产卵前期显著短于长翅型, 其早期产卵量及总产卵量亦显著高于长翅型; 而两翅型雌成虫中后期产卵量及寿命无显著差异（P>0.05）。此外, 长翅型雌成虫在羽化后12 d开始发生飞行肌的降解, 飞行肌降解个体的卵巢重量显著高于未降解个体, 与短翅型相似。结果提示, 飞行肌与生殖系统的发育之间存在资源分配的权衡关系（trade-off), 且这种资源分配的差异可能会导致长翅型与短翅型个体在生活史策略上出现分化, 即长翅型个体具有飞行能力, 而短翅型个体则在生殖方面获得更高的收益, 且飞行肌的降解可能是长翅型个体由飞行转向生殖发育的生理信号。     

褐飞虱长翅型和短翅型雌雄成虫体内磁性物质定位和定量检测

【目的】地磁定向是昆虫远距离迁飞定向的重要机制之一。本研究以迁飞性害虫褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens长翅型和短翅型雌雄成虫为研究对象,系统开展虫体内磁性物质定量研究。【方法】本研究利用MPMS-7型超导量子磁强计检测褐飞虱长翅型和短翅型雌雄成虫体内的磁性物质,并将经普鲁士蓝染色后的虫体超薄石蜡切片于JEM-2100型透射电子显微镜下观察磁性物质的分布状况,最后利用原子发射光谱法对虫体内的磁性物质进行定量分析与比较。【结果】超导量子磁强计检测发现,仅在褐飞虱长翅型和短翅型雌雄成虫腹部的磁滞曲线有明显闭合现象,证明该部位存在磁性物质;经透射电镜观察发现,普鲁士蓝沉淀主要呈点簇状存在于虫体腹部,证明该部位存在铁磁性物质;通过等离子发射光谱检测发现,同一性别长翅型成虫体内铁离子含量显著高于短翅型成虫,且相同翅型雄成虫体内铁离子含量显著高于雌成虫。【结论】褐飞虱长翅型和短翅型雌雄成虫腹部普遍存在铁磁性物质,且不同翅型和性别间磁性物质含量差异显著。     

遗传和环境因素对曲脉姬蟋亚热带种群翅型分化的影响

曲脉姬蟋Modicogryllus confirmatus Walker具有明显的翅二型现象。为探究环境及遗传如何影响曲脉姬蟋亚热带种群的翅型分化,对饲养于不同光周期、温度和密度条件下若虫羽化后的翅型比进行了调查,并对长、短翅型蟋蟀进行了3代遗传筛选和杂交试验,研究了光周期、温度、种群密度和遗传对曲脉姬蟋广西种群翅型分化的影响。结果表明:光周期和种群密度对曲脉姬蟋的翅型分化均无影响,而温度对其翅型分化具有调控作用。正常范围内的温度变化(25℃、30℃)对其翅型分化无显著影响,而35℃的极高温则显著降低曲脉姬蟋的长翅率,说明其翅型分化并不是对季节变化的适应,而高温胁迫可引起短翅化。对不同翅型进行了3代筛选,结果表明,往短翅型选拔会引起雌、雄虫的短翅率都明显下降,而往长翅型选拔时,雌、雄虫的短翅率均维持在极低水平;不同亲本组合的后代间的长翅率有差异,说明曲脉姬蟋的翅型分化可能受多基因调控。     

稻飞虱翅型纯系后代个体的翅型分化对光周期变化不敏感

【目的】为了明确光周期和遗传因子在稻飞虱翅型分化中的作用, 研究了3种稻飞虱（褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens、白背飞虱Sogatella furcifera和灰飞虱Laodelphax striatellus）翅型纯系或近纯系在不同光照时数下的翅型分化比率。【方法】以经过5~45代连续翅型筛选后的褐飞虱、白背飞虱和灰飞虱的长翅型和短翅型纯系或近纯系为材料, 在室内分别测定了其在长光照（16和20 h）、短光照(4~12 h)和正常光照(14 h) 3类光周期条件下饲养后, 雌、雄成虫中长翅和短翅个体出现的比率及存活率。【结果】白背飞虱和灰飞虱的长翅型纯系M♂×M♀或短翅型纯系B♂×B♀在不同光周期下的翅型比率均无显著差异（P>0.05）。褐飞虱短翅型近纯系B♂×B♀的雌虫短翅率和成虫总短翅率在不同光周期下也无显著差异（P>0.05）, 但雄虫短翅率在正常光照14 h和短光照4 h下显著高于长光照20 h下的（P<0.05）。当褐飞虱短翅型达到纯系后, 其后代翅型在6~16 h光照条件下无显著差异。褐飞虱长翅型近纯系M♂×M♀的后代虽有短翅个体出现, 但是雌虫和雄虫的各自短翅率在不同光周期下无显著差异（P>0.05), 仅总体短翅率在12 h光照条件下的显著高于16 h下的（P<0.05）。褐飞虱长、短翅型杂交筛选品系M♂×B♀的雌虫短翅率随光照时数的延长而升高; 灰飞虱杂交筛选品系M♂×B♀的短翅雄虫随光照时数的缩短而增多（P<0.05）, 但当筛选代次达到45代时, 这种趋势不再显著。3种稻飞虱长翅型和短翅型纯系或近纯系若虫的存活率会稍低于长、短翅型杂交后代的存活率, 但长、短翅型品系的存活率在6~16 h光照条件下差异不显著(P>0.05)。【结论】稻飞虱翅型分化对光周期的反应受飞虱本身遗传背景的影响, 翅型纯系后代个体的翅型分化对光周期变化不敏感。     

褐飞虱五龄若虫翅芽长度与成虫翅型关系的研究

褐飞虱饲养于不同水稻品种、不同生育期以及不同种群密度条件下,5龄若虫翅芽长度与成虫翅型具有稳定的相关性：翅芽长于1．10mm羽化后为长翅型雌虫,介于0．96～1．09mm之间为长翅型雄虫或短翅型雌虫,小于0．95mm为短翅型雄虫。根据5龄若虫翅芽长度结合外生殖器特征,编制了成虫翅型检索表。由此,可在5龄若虫期预测成虫的翅型和种群盛衰的趋势。     

Food digestion capability and digestive enzyme activity in female adults of the wing‐dimorphic cricket Velarifictorus ornatus

Velarifictorus ornatus (Shiraki) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) display distinct wing variation, and a physiological trade‐off between reproduction and flight muscles has been observed in long‐winged (LW) and short‐winged (SW) females. To understand the physiological basis of this trade‐off, we investigated the difference in the food digestion capability and digestive enzyme activity between LW and SW females. We found that the efficiency of conversion of digested food into body matter of SW females was significantly higher than that of the LW females, although there was no difference in the approximate digestibility between LW and SW females during the first 12 days after the adult emergence. Similarly, growth and relative growth were significantly higher in SW females. The food consumption of SW females was significantly higher than that of the LW females only in the first 6 days after the adult emergence, suggesting enhanced ovary development in SW females is probably because of the elevated efficiency of conversion of digested food into body matter coupled with greater consumption in the early stage after the adult emergence. Trypsin‐like activity was higher in SW females than in LW females, whereas no differences in the fresh weight of the midguts (including content) were observed between LW and SW females at 1, 3, or 5 h after refeeding after starvation for 18 h. In contrast, amylase activity varied significantly depending on time lapse after refeeding, being significantly higher in LW females than in SW females at 1 h after refeeding, but significantly lower in LW females than in SW females at 3 and 5 h after refeeding. The lipase activity displayed a similar trend in both LW and SW females after refeeding, with an initial decline followed by a slight increase; and no difference was observed between LW and SW females at any stage after refeeding.     

Trade‐off between flight capability and reproduction in male Velarifictorus asperses crickets

1. There are numerous data that support the trade‐off between flight capability and reproduction in female wing polymorphic insects, but the relationship between wing form and fitness remains poorly investigated in males. 2. In the present study, the development of flight muscle and gonads, spermatophore size, and multiple copulation ability were investigated in both long‐winged (LW) and short‐winged (SW) males to verify this trade‐off, using a wing dimorphic cricket species Velarifictorus aspersus (Walker). 3. The LW males had better‐developed wing muscles than the SW males on the day of emergence, and both of them developed wing muscles after emergence, but the peak of weight in SW males was achieved 4 days later than that of the LW males. The accessory glands (AG) of the LW males developed significantly slower than that of the SW males. These results suggest that development and maintenance of flight muscles have a cost on the development of reproductive organs in male V. asperses. 4. The SW males produced significantly heavier spermatophores in a single copulation and mated more often than LW males. This indicates the SW males have a higher mating success than the LW males, thereby increasing their chance of siring offspring.     

Physiological trade-offs between reproduction,flight capability and longevity in a wing-dimorphic cricket,Modicogryllus confirmatus

Physiological and morphological comparisons were made between the short-winged (SW) and long-winged (LW) morphs of a cricket, Modicogryllus confirmatus, to determine the cost of the flight capacity and the physiological mechanisms underlying trade-offs between different life history traits related to migration and reproduction. Both wingmorphs grew at a similar rate and no consistent correlation was found between nymphal development and adult body size. The metathoracic muscles at adult emergence represented 4.2% of the wet body weight in the SW morph and 10.5% in the LW morph. Fat content of the body at adult emergence was positively correlated to dry body weight, but no significant difference was found in mean fat content between the two wingmorphs or between sexes after body weight was adjusted. SW females fed ad libitum produced significantly more eggs than LW females during the first 20days of adult life. Egg production was not correlated to either body size or the duration of nymphal development. LW adults lived longer than SW ones when kept with water alone or when given various amounts of food on day 1 and otherwise kept with water alone. In females, a highly significant correlation was found between longevity and egg production, indicating the presence of a trade-off. LW females mainly allocated the energy from food to flight muscle development and general maintenance of the body rather than to egg production, whereas SW females used it for egg production and longevity. LW females that had been de-alated at adult emergence histolyzed the flight muscle and used the energy from food for egg production almost exclusively. These results suggest that energy allocation and trade-offs after adult emergence may play crucial roles in the functional differentiation of the two wingmorphs.     

Potential Reproductive Advantage of Short-over Long-Winged Adult Males of the Cricket <Emphasis Type="Italic">Velarifictorus ornatus</Emphasis>

A trade-off between flight capability and reproduction is well known in adult females of the wing-dimorphic cricket Velarifictorus ornatus, but it is not clear whether such a trade-off exists in adult males of the species. In the present study, we investigated sexual maturation time, mating frequency, and the fertilization success of spermatophores after sequential mating in long-winged (LW) and short-winged (SW) adult males of V. ornatus to evaluate the potential reproductive advantage of the SW over the LW male morph. We found that the SW males of V. ornatus attained sexual maturity earlier and produced heavier spermatophores during the early stage after adult emergence than their LW counterparts. Additionally, within a 24-h mating period, the SW males showed a higher mating frequency, greater spermatophore weight, and shorter intermating time interval compared with their LW counterparts. Although females copulated with the two male morphs produced eggs of similar size, fertilization success by SW males was significantly higher than by the LW males. These results provide support for a trade-off between dispersal capability and reproduction success in wing-dimorphic males of V. ornatus.     

梨小食心虫幼虫中肠中高表达消化酶和解毒酶基因的筛选

【目的】挖掘梨小食心虫Grapholita molesta幼虫中肠中高表达消化酶和解毒酶基因,为今后研究以肠道为靶标的新型农药和转基因作物提供理论依据。【方法】基于梨小食心虫4龄幼虫中肠转录组高通量测序数据的FPKM值,筛选高表达基因,进行GO功能注释和KEGG通路富集分析,并使用BLAST软件进行比对筛选高表达的消化酶和解毒酶基因,利用MEGA对这些高表达的消化酶和解毒酶及其他鳞翅目昆虫的同源蛋白进行系统发育分析。利用qRT-PCR技术对梨小食心虫幼虫不同龄期中肠中的高表达代表性消化酶和解毒酶基因表达量进行定量分析和验证。【结果】在GO数据库中注释了103 677个在梨小食心虫4龄幼虫中肠中高表达基因,包括细胞组分、分子功能和生物学进程三大类功能共41个分支。KEGG通路分析表明,10 846个高表达基因参与了5类生化代谢通路。筛选到具有完整开放阅读框的消化酶基因17个［5个胰蛋白酶(trypsin, TRY)基因、3个氨肽酶(aminopeptidase, APN)基因和9个羧肽酶(carboxypeptidase, CP)基因］和解毒酶基因32个［11个谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(glutathione S-transferase, GST)基因、13个细胞色素P450(cytochrome P450, CYP450)基因和8个羧酸脂酶(carboxylesterase, CarE)基因］。系统发育分析结果表明,梨小食心虫的消化酶同源聚类分支较为分散,GSTs和CYP450s分支聚类较为集中,但都至少与1个鳞翅目昆虫同源蛋白聚在一支。qRT-PCR验证结果表明,消化酶和解毒酶基因在不同龄期梨小食心虫幼虫中肠中的表达量差异显著,表达量均在4龄幼虫期最高。【结论】本研究成功筛选和验证部分梨小食心虫幼虫中肠中高表达的消化酶和解毒酶基因,明确其与鳞翅目其他昆虫同源蛋白的进化关系。研究结果为鳞翅目其他近缘昆虫的转录组分析和以肠道为靶标的害虫防治提供了参考。     

低致死剂量氯虫苯甲酰胺对沟金针虫食物利用和相关生理生化指标的剂量和时间效应

【目的】明确氯虫苯甲酰胺对沟金针虫Pleonomus canaliculatus亚致死效应的生理生化机制,阐明氯虫苯甲酰胺低致死剂量对沟金针虫食物利用、能量物质含量以及体内消化酶、保护酶和解毒酶活力的影响。【方法】室内采用土壤混药法测定氯虫苯甲酰胺对沟金针虫3龄幼虫毒力,并测定了氯虫苯甲酰胺LC₁₀, LC₂₅和LC₄₀低致死剂量对沟金针虫3龄幼虫营养指标和体内能量物质含量的影响;采用酶动力学法检测了氯虫苯甲酰胺低致死剂量处理1, 6, 12, 24, 48和72 h后沟金针虫3龄幼虫体内消化酶(蛋白酶、α-淀粉酶、脂肪酶、海藻糖酶)、保护酶(CAT, POD和SOD)以及解毒酶(CarE, MFO和GST)活力的动态变化。【结果】氯虫苯甲酰胺对沟金针虫3龄幼虫有较高毒力,其LC₅₀值为1.2397 mg/kg。LC₁₀和LC₄₀剂量氯虫苯甲酰胺处理沟金针虫3龄幼虫后,平均相对生长率(MRGR)和近似消化率(AD)显著降低,严重干扰其对食物的利用;LC₁₀, LC₂₅和LC₄₀剂量处理后沟金针虫3龄幼虫体内主要的能量物质(蛋白质、脂质、碳水化合物、海藻糖)含量和消化酶活力均明显降低,而解毒酶和保护酶活力显著增加,最终延缓其生长发育。【结论】氯虫苯甲酰胺对沟金针虫幼虫具有很高的杀虫活性,低致死剂量氯虫苯甲酰胺处理沟金针虫幼虫后,通过抑制消化酶活性,使其对食物的利用能力降低和生长发育延缓,以及诱导解毒酶和保护酶活性来阻止外界毒物侵害。研究结果为阐明氯虫苯甲酰胺对沟金针虫的亚致死效应机制及作用机理提供了一定的理论基础。     

THE GENETIC BASIS OF THE TRADE-OFF BETWEEN CALLING AND WING MORPH IN MALES OF THE CRICKET GRYLLUS FIRMUS

Wing dimorphisms exist in a wide range of insects. In wing-dimorphic species one morph is winged has functional flight muscles (LW), and is flight-capable, whereas the other has reduced wings (SW) and cannot fly The evolution and maintenance of wing dimorphisms is believed to be due to trade-offs between flight capability and fitness-related traits. Although there are well-established phenotypic trade-offs associated with wing dimorphism in female insects, there only exist two studies that have established a genetic basis to these trade-offs. The present study provides the first evidence for a genetically based trade-off in male insects, specifically in the sand cricket Gryllus firmus. Because they have to expend energy to maintain the flight apparatus (especially flight muscles), LW males are predicted to call less and therefore to attract fewer females. To be of evolutionary significance, call duration wing morph, and wing muscle condition (size and functionality) should all have measurable heritabilities and all be genetically correlated. Differences between morphs in male G. firmus in the likelihood of attracting a female were tested in the laboratory using a T-maze where females chose between a LW male and a SW male. Call duration for each male was recorded on the sixth day of adult life. A significant difference in call duration was found between SW and LW males (SW = 0.86 ± 0.01, LW = 0.64 ± 0.01 h). SW males attracted significantly more females than did LW males (63% vs. to 37%). All the traits involved in the trade-off had significant heritabilities (call = 0 75 ± 0 33; wing morph = 0.22 ± 007; muscle weight = 0.38 ± 0.09) and genetic correlations (call and wing morph = -0.46 ± 0.20 for SW, -0.68 ± 0.16 for LW; LW call and muscle weight = -0.80 ± 0.14). These results provide the first documented evidence that trade-offs between a dimorphic trait and a fitness-related character in males has a genetic basis and hence can be of evolutionary significance.