Male two-spot ladybugs that haven’t mated live significantly longer than those who have. (Credit: *Psycho Delia’, via flickr)
The toll of raising young on females is well-documented, but a new study looks at the less well-understood costs mating poses to males. Males of the two-spot ladybird beetle (Adalia bipunctata) who had mated had 53% shorter life spans than those who hadn’t. As well, males who produced a spermatophore – a capsule containing sperm and proteins which the females eject and eat after mating – ingested more food than males who didn’t, presumably to make up for lost nutrients.
Original research article published in PLOS ONE on December 5, 2013
Names and affiliations of selected authors:
Jennifer Perry, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford
Crystal Tse, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo
