FEMALE PREFERENCES FOR LARGE, HEAVY MATES IN SCHISTOCERCA-AMERICANA (ORTHOPTERA, ACRIDIDAE)

The significance of female choice in shaping mating systems remains pr oblematic. The following study clearly documents female preferences in a species of grasshopper, Schistocerca americana, over the course of 3 years. Three sets of animals were observed in an outdoor seminatural cage. Females were found to mate more often with large, heavy males. Furthermore, remating by a female within a week was less likely if she mated with a large or heavy male. Because females were found to ovipo sit 2 days after a mating on average, these large heavy males may also be chosen cryptically (as defined in the literature) and father more offspring.