Publication
Title
Differences in mating propensity between immature female color morphs in the damselfly **Ischnura elegans** (Insecta: Odonata)
Author
Abstract
Female-limited color polymorphisms occur in a variety of animal taxa where excessive male sexual harassment may explain the coexistence of multiple female color morphs. In the color polymorphic damselfly Ischnura elegans, mature and immature female color morphs coexist at the mating site where males are in search for suitable mating partners. Here, we study male preference and female mating propensity for the two immature female morphs. As would be expected, compared to mature morphs, both immature female morphs mate much less. Within immature females, one morph consistently mates more frequently compared to the other morph, a pattern that is similar for the ontogenetically corresponding mature female morphs. Preference experiments with the two differently colored immature female morphs, however, did not indicate male mate preference for either morph. Low mating frequencies of immature females at natural sites in combination with relatively high attractiveness of immature models in terms of male preference indicate that female behavior influences female mating success.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of insect behavior. - New York, N.Y.
Publication
New York, N.Y. : 2009
ISSN
0892-7553
DOI
10.1007/S10905-009-9175-2
Volume/pages
22 :4 (2009) , p. 324-337
ISI
000266249700005
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 06.08.2009
Last edited 25.05.2022
To cite this reference