We tested the hypothesis that females free to choose their mates without hindrance from male/male competition, female/female contests, male choice, or male coercion acquire viability and/or attractiveness benefits for offspring. We used spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica undecimpuctata howardi as a model and measured offspring survival, size, mating success, and fecundity where mothers chose their mates and when non-preferred mates were assigned to the mothers. The relationship between female preference and male antennal stroking speed was also determined.
Species 1: Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi (Spotted Cucumber Beetle)
Keywords: Sexual selection
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