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Intrasexual mounting in the beetle Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.)
A R Harari1, H J Brockmann, P J Landolt
1United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Gainesville, PO Box 14565, FL 32604, USA. aharari@netvision.net.il
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|June 22, 2001
Summary
Same-sex mounting in Diaprepes abbreviatus weevils is likely due to poor sex recognition. This explains why males mount other males and females mount other females, impacting insect mating behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Entomology
- Animal Behavior
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Same-sex mounting behaviors are observed in various animal species.
- Intrasexual mounting in insects can be influenced by factors like mimicry, dominance, sperm competition, and sex recognition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the underlying causes of same-sex mounting behaviors in the weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus.
- To test specific hypotheses explaining male-male and female-female mounting in this species.
Main Methods:
- Conducted mate choice experiments to observe and analyze mounting behaviors.
- Performed sperm competition experiments to assess reproductive success related to mounting.
Main Results:
- Data rejected hypotheses of female mimicry, male dominance, and sperm transfer for male-male mounting.
- Poor sex recognition was supported as the primary explanation for male-male mounting.
- Female-female mounting was best explained by female mimicry of males, consistent with poor sex recognition.
Conclusions:
- Poor sex recognition is the most probable driver for both male and female same-sex mounting in Diaprepes abbreviatus.
- Female mimicry of males explains female-female mounting, aligning with broader implications for insect intrasexual behaviors.
