Posted by tristram on 30-05-2023 22:02
#1
Does anyone know of any literature that deals with sex diferences in the phenology of Diptera?
The following two plots are based on specimens I collected near Reading, UK since 2014.
(Actually one specimen was collected in North Yorkshire)
Edited by tristram on 30-05-2023 22:21
Posted by tristram on 30-05-2023 22:05
#2
The complete absence of males from the autumn generation is not something I expected.
Posted by tristram on 30-05-2023 22:18
#3
It seems to me that this is evolutionarily unstable and raises interesting questions, such as:
Are the females that come out in the autumn reproducing asexually, or are they just wasting their time coming out at that time of year?
What is the mechanism that 'wakes up' the females in the autumn but does not 'wake up' the males?
I have found this, but it is not specific to Diptera):
Sex-Differences in Phenology: A Tinbergian Perspective
Cory T Williams, Helen E Chmura, Cole K Deal, Kathryn Wilsterman
Integrative and Comparative Biology, Volume 62, Issue 4, October 2022, Pages 980–997
Any pointers to any other relevant literature would be much appreciated.
Edited by tristram on 04-10-2023 19:00
Posted by tristram on 04-10-2023 18:59
#4
Eumea linearicornis also appears to have a female-only autumn generation (all specimens collected from the area of Readiing, UK since April 2014)
Posted by Fred Fly on 05-10-2023 06:23
#5
I remember no paper on protrandry in Diptera at present accept some notes on phenology for single species. There are papers and book chapters of general entomology dealing with it. I think that almost all Brachycera are protandrous. In some cases mated females are living very long and could be the only hibernating sex occuring in the following spring.
Regards
Fred