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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Athol McLachlan
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It has recently been found that a conspicuous ectoparasite appears to act as a female sexual display ornament. This tantalizing finding has thus far defied explanation. I report here the discovery of a second parasite, a mermithid worm in the same host species which goes some way to providing an explanation. The worm renders the host female sterile and hence reduces her fitness and that of any male mating with her to zero. Crucially both mite and worm rarely occur together in the same host individual so that by mating with a female baring a mite the male midge avoids zero fitness. Hence there is the possibility for the evolution of a mating system based on mites as indicators of female fitness; thus it is the female that bares the peacock's tail. The roles of competition, choice and coercion as ultimate causes of mating are discussed. Evidence comes from samples in the wild of a test chironomid midge, Paratrichocladius rufiventris (Meigen), the males of which swarm over a landmark to attract patrolling females. Females enter the swarm and soon emerge in tandem with a male. It was thus feasible to sample swarm females as representatives of the unmated female population for comparison with those in mating pairs. The presence of the mite Unionicola ypsilophora Bonz. was recorded, followed by dissection of the host to determine the presence or absence of the worm, probably Gastromermis rosea L.
Author(s): McLachlan AJ
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Ethology Ecology and Evolution
Year: 2006
Volume: 18
Issue: 3
Pages: 233-239
Print publication date: 01/09/2006
ISSN (print): 0394-9370
ISSN (electronic): 1828-7131
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
