Copulation duration and probability of insemination in Anthocoris whitei (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) as a function of male body size

Abstract

The influence of male and female body size on copulation duration and probability of insemination was determined for Anthocoris whitei Reuter allowed to mate at two temperatures. Copulation duration decreased significantly with increasing male length or increasing relative size (male length divided by female length). Female length had no effect on copulation duration. We interrupted copulation at 20 or 40 min at both 25 and 15 °C to determine the interacting effects of male size, temperature, and copulation duration on probability of insemination. Insemination probabilities increased with increasing male size, increasing temperature, and increased duration of copulation. Large males were more successful than small males at inseminating females at cool temperatures and for severely shortened copulations. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that males of this species experience physical difficulties either in achieving intromission or in forcing sperm through the aedeagus, and that larger body size in males lessens these difficulties.

Aggregation and mating success of Capnodis tenebrionis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

“…Similarly, the largest male within a pair of males was more likely to mate. A positive correlation between male size and mating success has been reported for a range of insect species (Gage & Barnard, ; Horton et al ., , ; Ryder & Siva‐Jothy, ; Honěk, ; Gao & Kang, ) and has been previously observed in other beetles (Harari et al ., ; Kotiaho, ; Wang, ; O'Luanaigh et al ., ). Large male size may confer a mating advantage through intra‐ or intersexual competition in C. tenebrionis .…”

“…Variation in the external environment can influence the intensity of sexual display and lead to modification of the transmissibility and receptivity of signals employed in mate choice (Larsson, ; Forrest & Raspet, ; Johansson & Jones, ). For ectothermic species, variation in the ambient temperature may have a dramatic impact on a range of biological processes and sexual behavior patterns, including the formation of mating aggregations (Larsson & Kustvall, ), copulation duration (Cook, ; Horton et al ., , ) and ejaculate transfer (Horton et al ., ; Fox et al ., ). For example, in crickets, males call more intensely ( Gryllus spp; Martin et al ., ; Hedrick et al ., ) and females mate more frequently ( Gryllodes sigillatus and Acheta domesticus ; Kindle et al ., ) at higher temperatures.…”

“…For example, in crickets, males call more intensely (Gryllus spp; Martin et al, 2000;Hedrick et al, 2002) and females mate more frequently (Gryllodes sigillatus and Acheta domesticus; Kindle et al, 2006) at higher temperatures. Similarly, in the predatory bug Anthocoris whitei the probability of a male successfully inseminating a female and oocyte maturation increases and copulation duration C 2013 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences decreases with increasing temperature (Horton et al, 2001(Horton et al, , 2002.…”

“…In animals, an individual's reproductive potential is likely to be influenced by a range of phenotypic and genetic factors, such as age (Brooks & Kemp, 2001), body condition (Holzer et al, 2003), and ornamentation or size (Fukaya, 2005). Typically, for males, there is a positive relationship between male body size and mating success (Johnson, 1982;McLain & Boromisa, 1987;Burkhardt et al, 1994;Goldsmith et al, 1996;Horton et al, 2001;Kotiaho, 2002). Similarly, a positive relationship between female body size and fecundity is a common feature of invertebrate species (Kozlowski, 1992;Stearns, 1992;Honěk, 1993;Blanckenhorn, 2000).…”

Body size and mating success in Pyrrhocoris apterus (Heteroptera)

“…The differences may be due to morpho logical constraints on copulation success in individuals of different size. Thus small males may have difficulty inseminating females (Horton et al, 2001). The variation is explained by a concealed behavioural resistance of females to copulation with small males that provide less ejaculate than large males (Field et al, 1999).…”