Effects of natal environment on male-male competitive success in the cactus bug Narnia femorata (Hemiptera: Coreidae)

Sexual selection is responsible for some of this planet’s most beautiful and bizarre creatures. But is this process driven solely on the basis of genetics? As of late, much empirical evidence has indicated that environmental conditions can have a large impact on the process and outcomes of sexual selection. Here, we address the question: how does natural environmental heterogeneity alter male-male competitive success? We raised cactus bugs, Narnia femorata, under different natal environmental conditions and experimentally measured male-male competitive success. We found a significant effect of natal environment on male competitive success, demonstrating the crucial role environmental heterogeneity plays in the process of sexual selection.