Understanding nuptial gift size in bush-crickets: an analysis of the genus Poecilimon (Tettigoniidae: Orthoptera)

Abstract

Abstract During mating, male insects of certain species transfer a costly nuptial gift, a large spermatophore, which is eaten by the female as sperm transfer into her. The spermatophore components (the sperm-free spermatophylax and the sperm ampulla) vary greatly in size between species, and have a direct influence on male fitness. Studies of the relationship between spermatophore size variation and male fitness have concentrated on associations between evolutionary changes in spermatophylax size and either ampulla size or sperm number. Two main hypotheses have been put forward to explain the function of the spermatophylax: the ejaculate-protection hypothesis and the paternal investment hypothesis. A strong correlation between the spermatophylax and ampulla or sperm number suggests an ejaculate-protection function because it protects the ampulla from being removed prematurely. However, comparative support comes mainly from disparate bush-cricket species (Tettigoniidae), that vary greatly in relatedness an...