A preliminary assessment of the physiological and morphological correlates of beetle aggression in an emerging sugarcane pest, Cacosceles newmannii ( Thomson, 1877) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Funding Agencies|Centre for Invasion Biology; South African Sugarcane Research Institute [S005221]
Understanding the morphological and physiological correlates of competitive behaviours can provide important insights into the ecology of competition, home range size and resource consumption. Here we first estimated and defined sexual dimorphism in a poorly studied African cerambycid species, Cacosceles newmannii (Thomson, 1877). We then assessed morphological and physiological attributes of male beetles in relation to their fighting behaviour. Suites of morphological and energetic measurements were carried out on adult males, the latter before and after male-male interactions. Aggressive behaviour and the outcomes of male fighting trials were assessed under controlled conditions. The species is highly sexually dimorphic in relation to mandible size. During male-male interactions, a continuum of behaviours with an increasing risk of injury and metabolic cost was observed. Grasping was prolonged in males with larger fighting apparatus, who also tended to use more energy during the encounter than males displaying other behaviours. Our results indicate that the mandible size in C. newmannii serves as an honest signal of fighting ability in this species. Additionally, energetic assessments in preparation for fighting, costs during a fight, and persistence of metabolic costs postfighting may be useful for understanding the relative fitness costs of competition.

NATURVETENSKAP Biologi Zoologi hsv//swe
NATURAL SCIENCES Biological Sciences Zoology hsv//eng
dimorphism; insect behaviour; mandible respirometry sexual dimorphism; sexual selection

Le Moëne, OliviaLinköpings universitet,Avdelningen för neurobiologi,Medicinska fakulteten(Swepub:liu)olile02 (author)
Smit, ChantelleStellenbosch Univ, South Africa (author)
Conlong, Desmond E.Stellenbosch Univ, South Africa; African Sugarcane Res Inst, South Africa (author)
Terblanche, John S.Stellenbosch Univ, South Africa (author)
Stellenbosch Univ, South AfricaAvdelningen för neurobiologi (creator_code:org_t)

By the author/editor: Javal, Marion; Le Moëne, Olivia; Smit, Chantelle; Conlong, Desmond ...; Terblanche, John ...

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