Vol. 47 No. 1, 2008

Positive Relation between Male Size and Remating Success in Some Populations of Drosophila bipectinata

Basavarajpur Rajegowda Guru Prasad, Shridar Narayan Hegde*, and Mysore Siddhaih Krishna

Department of Studies in Zoology, The University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore 570006, India

Basavarajpur Rajegowda Guru Prasad, Shridar Narayan Hegde, and Mysore Siddhaih Krishna (2008) In the present study, an apparent association between male size and male remating components was studied in 4 different geographical populations of Drosophila bipectinata using the no-choice method.  Male size and remating components such as male mating latency (percentage of males remating), male remating latency, male mating ability, and copulation durations with the 1st and 2nd females varied significantly between different geographical populations, but all showed positive relations between male size and male remating components.  Male size and remating components were significantly correlated in these populations suggesting that large males mated faster, copulated longer, remated faster and more frequently, and inseminated more females, while small males mated faster, copulated for a shorter duration, remated more slowly and less frequently, and inseminated fewer females.  It was also noted that the duration of copulation was shorter in the 2nd mating (remating) by males than the 1st mating.  Thus, in D. bipectinata, these studies suggest the occurrence of interpopulational variations in male size and male remating components, and support the hypothesis of bigger is better.

Key words: Drosophila bipectinata, Male remating, Wing length, Body size.

*Correspondence: Tel: 91-821-2419777.  E-mail:malerhegde@yahoo.com