We have observed the morphological traits from male and female of two Bruchinae species, which are Senegalia tenuifolia seed-predators, and how these traits are influenced by the resource traits variation under different conditions such as sampling events and sites. In respect to our hypothesis in which the increase in resource quantity increases body size and biomass, we have confirmed it partially.
In general, female insects tend to have a larger body size than the males, and the difference between male and female is more pronounced when observing the body biomass (Colgoni & Vamosi 2006). However, our system pointed out an opposite pattern for both species, corroborated by the longevity experiment set up in the laboratory. Male M. terani individuals are larger than females, however, until now, only species from the genus Stator were described having males larger than females (Savali & Fox 1998, Fox et al. 2003). Furthermore, even though males and females consume the same amount of seed, in the field and in the longevity experiment, the male beetle bodies were heavier than the female bodies.
Beetles that emerged late (fruit in a ripe stage) from seeds were larger and heavier than individuals emerging early (fruit in an unripe stage), however there were no differences in body size across areas for M. terani, whereas …show more content…
Assuming the fact that S. maculatophygus did not presented any relationship between biomass and tibia length, while the abundant one did, is striking us. Nevertheless, the allometric data presented here is important to more deeply describe both species and their morphological traits aspect variation. Further investigations are necessary considering the male and female and how resource quantities may influence their allometry
In general, female insects tend to have a larger body size than the males, and the difference between male and female is more pronounced when observing the body biomass (Colgoni & Vamosi 2006). However, our system pointed out an opposite pattern for both species, corroborated by the longevity experiment set up in the laboratory. Male M. terani individuals are larger than females, however, until now, only species from the genus Stator were described having males larger than females (Savali & Fox 1998, Fox et al. 2003). Furthermore, even though males and females consume the same amount of seed, in the field and in the longevity experiment, the male beetle bodies were heavier than the female bodies.
Beetles that emerged late (fruit in a ripe stage) from seeds were larger and heavier than individuals emerging early (fruit in an unripe stage), however there were no differences in body size across areas for M. terani, whereas …show more content…
Assuming the fact that S. maculatophygus did not presented any relationship between biomass and tibia length, while the abundant one did, is striking us. Nevertheless, the allometric data presented here is important to more deeply describe both species and their morphological traits aspect variation. Further investigations are necessary considering the male and female and how resource quantities may influence their allometry