Occurrence of Sexual Size Dimorphism in<i>Belostoma elegans</i>(Heteroptera: Belostomatidae)

Iglesias, Mónica S.; Valverde, Alejandra C.; Gaspe, María Sol; Crespo, Francisco A.

doi:10.3157/021.121.0106

Cited by 5 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Belostoma species present sex role reversal and differ from that general trend. Unencumbered males and females of Belostoma are frequently described as morphologically cryptic (Smith 1980), but a recent study on Belostoma elegans detected SSD with components of body size biased with different trends ranging from monomorphic to either male‐biased or female‐biased dimorphic traits (Iglesias et al . 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2008); therefore, there is a sex role reversal (Andersson 1994) that requires dedication of time and energy and includes risk exposure. Few studies relate care behavior with sexual size dimorphism (Iglesias et al . 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Paternal behavior includes leg movements to nurse and aerate the eggs (Smith 1976a(Smith ,b, 1980, which is essential for the progeny survival (Munguía-Steyer et al 2008); therefore, there is a sex role reversal (Andersson 1994) that requires dedication of time and energy and includes risk exposure. Few studies relate care behavior with sexual size dimorphism (Iglesias et al 2010). These approaches are required to provide new hypotheses on the evolution and maintenance of sexual size dimorphism.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is parental care behavior in Belostoma species an evolutionary cause for their common sexual size dimorphism pattern?

Iglesias¹,

Crespo

Valverde³

2011

Entomological Science

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Current evidence suggests that sexual size dimorphism (SSD) reflects the male and female adaptation to their different reproductive roles. Belostoma and Lethocerus species, included in Belostomatidae, present different kinds of paternal care. Females of Belostoma Latreille species lay their eggs on the back of males. Males carry, aerate and protect the clutch until hatching, which is critical for offspring survival. Males of Lethocerus Mayr species exhibit some parental care behavior but do not carry the eggs. The genera are nearly related. We studied and compared the SSD patterns of B. oxyurum (Dufour), B. micantulum (Stål), B. elegans (Mayr), B. bifoveolatum Spinola, B. gestroi Montandon and Lethocerus annulipes (Herrich‐Schäffer) by means of a multivariate approach to distinguish selection targets in different components of size. Morphometric analysis revealed that SSD patterns vary among traits and that the arrangements are similar in Belostoma species, showing a common trend under resembling selective mechanisms. The widespread SSD trend in insects is that all components of body size are biased towards females, generally related to a fecundity advantage, a pattern now also detected in L. annulipes. We found in Belostoma species that the male has relatively longer middle and hind legs. We propose that SSD in hind legs biased towards males is a selective response for paternal care; they denote a brood‐adapted morphology. The middle leg enlargement may be an associated response to maintain effective locomotion.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Is parental care behavior in Belostoma species an evolutionary cause for their common sexual size dimorphism pattern?

Iglesias¹,

Crespo

Valverde³

2011

Entomological Science

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“…However, body length (total length without head) and maximum width do not differ between individuals of opposite sex in Belostoma elegans (Iglesias et al . ). Other studies show that the trends of SSD depend on individual species (Iglesias et al .…”

Section: Morphological Studiesmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…However, male‐biased SSD is found in the middle and hind leg segments, which are used during mating and brooding in Belostomatinae (Iglesias et al . ). The males of Belostoma species have relatively longer middle and hind legs, showing a selective response for paternal care that maintain effective locomotion and denote a brood‐adapted morphology.…”

Section: Morphological Studiesmentioning

confidence: 97%

Ecology of giant water bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Belostomatidae)

Ohba

2018

Entomological Science

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Giant water bugs (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae) are aquatic predators of freshwater habitats, and include ca. 150 species distributed throughout the world's subtropical and tropical areas. They have unique mating systems, which involve female competition, and exhibit paternal care, wherein males attend eggs laid by the females on emergent plants (Lethocerinae) or on their backs (Belostomatinae). I review here the studies on the predator–prey relationships, morphology, migration, mating behavior and conservation of this family of insects.

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