Insemination success discrepancy between long-term and short-term copulations in the provisioning shield bug, Parastrachia japonensis (Hemiptera: Cydnidae)

The duration of copulation in the gregarious shield bug, Parastrachia japonensis Scott (Hemiptera: Cydnidae), is of two types, the far more prevalent short-term copulation (average, 15 s) and the long-term coupulation (average, 23 min). Both types were thought to be equally effective in inseminating females. Recent evidence has suggested that there is, in fact, a discrepancy in insemination success between the two duration types of copulations. We carried out manipulated field studies to clarify the difference in insemination success between the two duration types and to determine whether there is some physical or physiological variability in females or males that might affect female receptivity to a long-term copulation. The findings indicated that, although a small percentage of short-term copulations resulted in some sperm transfer, long-term copulations were a far more effective way for males to inseminate females. Further, females experiencing long-term copulations were found to be at a slightly more advanced stage of ovarian development than those experiencing only short-term copulations, and may be deciding whether a long-term copulation occurs. Male size does not appear to affect copulation duration. It is concluded that the long-term type of copulation is the actual effective copulation duration in this species and the objective of all females. Possible factors that might contribute to the prevalence of these two copulation durations are discussed. Received: June 21, 1999 / Accepted: September 6, 1999     

Factors influencing the onset and duration of receptivity of female purple rock crabs, Hemigrapsus sexdentatus (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) (Brachyura: Grapsidae)

The effects of males, field, and laboratory conditions on the receptivity of females were tested in the New Zealand purple rock crab Hemigrapsus sexdentatus. Onset and duration of female receptivity is of interest because it influences the time available for mating and therefore the operational sex ratio (OSR), male-male competition, and the extent of sperm competition. Females were receptive once a year for a short time prior to oviposition. The breeding season was highly synchronised and lasted for about 3 weeks (from the end of March to mid-April; southern autumn), after which, almost all females carried eggs. We found few receptive females in the field (0% to 4.9%) during the breeding season despite a large number of crabs examined (935 in 1999 and 555 in 2000), suggesting that females are receptive for less than a day. The onset of the breeding season was the same for the wild crabs and those held in field cages, but the duration of receptivity increased to several days for caged females. The onset of the breeding season of females in the laboratory was earlier compared to females in the field and had, overall, a longer breeding season. Females isolated from males stayed receptive significantly longer (5.5 days) than females caged with males (3.3 days), suggesting that the duration of female receptivity is adjusted according to the presence or absence of males. Our results suggest that females have some control over their receptivity in relation to male presence, and this could influence the outcome of sexual selection.     

High variation in sperm precedence and last male advantage in the scorpionfly Panorpa germanica L. (Mecoptera, Panorpidae): possible causes and consequences

In the last decades, many insect species have been studied in terms of sperm competition. Patterns of sperm use are often inferred from the mean species value of P(2), defined as the mean proportion of offspring sired by the second male in double-mating trials. In Panorpa germanica (Mecoptera, Panorpidae), P(2) largely depends on relative copulation durations of both males, but with the second male on average having some advantage over the first male. Estimating the presence of fertile sperm inside the female's reproductive tract in relation to time after copulation we conclude this partial last male sperm precedence not to be caused by natural death, loss, or depletion of first male sperm. Estimating sperm transfer rates of both mates of a female we, furthermore, found that the high intraspecific variance in P(2) that can be observed cannot solely be explained by variances in sperm transfer rates among P. germanica males. Other factors possibly causing the observed patterns of paternity success are discussed.     

Contrasting sexual selection on males and females in a role-reversed swarming dance fly, Rhamphomyia longicauda Loew (Diptera: Empididae)

Although there are several hypotheses for sex-specific ornamentation, few studies have measured selection in both sexes. We compare sexual selection in male and female dance flies, Rhamphomyia longicauda (Diptera: Empididae). Swarming females display size-enhancing abdominal sacs, enlarged wings and decorated tibiae, and compete for nuptial gifts provided by males. Males preferentially approach large females, but the nature of selection and whether it is sex-specific are unknown. We found contrasting sexual selection for mating success on structures shared by males and females. In females, long wings and short tibiae were favoured, whereas males with short wings and long tibiae had a mating advantage. There was no assortative mating. Females occupying potentially advantageous swarm positions were large and, in contrast to selection for mating success, tended to have larger tibiae than those of rivals. We discuss our findings in the context of both the mating biology of dance flies, and the evolution of sexual dimorphism in general.     

Protracted rainfall decreases temperature within leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) clutches in Grenada, West Indies: Ecological implications for a species displaying temperature dependent sex determination

Protracted or intense rainfall may affect the reproductive success of reptilian species on a number of levels ranging from the availability of prey, the integrity of the nesting site and the subsequent survivability of offspring. For sea turtles (a species displaying temperature sex determination) nesting throughout the tropics and subtropics, rainfall has previously been shown to influence the development environment of clutches; in its extreme resulting in high levels of egg or hatchling mortality. Yet when compared to other abiotic variables affecting clutch success, rainfall has received relatively little attention. We therefore examined how fluctuations in local rainfall at a tropical nesting site for leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) affected the nest environment. Temperature data loggers placed within clutches (n = 8) revealed that protracted rainfall had a marked cooling effect on nests, so that seasonally improbable male-producing temperatures (< 29.75 °C) were produced. We use these data to explore how rainfall may ultimately influence the sex ratios of sea turtle hatchlings both within and between nesting seasons, and discuss the importance of robust estimates of rainfall for future demographic models.