New and noteworthy host records for some North American and Colombian spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae)

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  New and noteworthy host records for some North American and Colombian spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) Abstract New and noteworthy parasitoid/host records for 47 North American and Colombian species and subspecies of spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) are listed in taxonomic order following the Catalog of Hymenoptera in America North of Mexico (Krombein 1979). Te records represent an extension of previous host studies by Kurczewski and various co-authors. New genus and/or species host records are given for the genera and subgenera  Calopompilus  Ashmead,  Pepsis  Fabricius,  Hemipepsis  Dahlbom,  Priocnessus  Banks,  Entypus  Dahlbom,  Cryptocheilus  Panzer,  Priocnemissus  Haupt,  Caliadurgus  Pate,  Dipogon  Fox,  Phanagenia  Banks,  Auplopus  Spinola,  Ageniella  Banks,  Aporus  Spinola,  Episyron  Schiødte,  Poecilopompilus...

Intraspecific body size variation and allometry of genitalia in the orb-web spider—Argiope lobata

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Intraspecific body size variation and allometry of genitalia in the orb-web spider—Argiope lobata

Abstract


The current consensus is that sexual selection is responsible for the rapid and diverse evolution of genitalia, with several mutually exclusive mechanisms under debate, including non-antagonistic, antagonistic, and stabilizing mechanisms. We used the orb-web spider, Argiope lobata (Araneidae), as a study model to quantify the allometric relationship between body size and genitalia, and to test for any impact of genital structures on male mating success or outcome in terms of copulation duration, leg loss or cannibalism. Our data do not support the ‘one-size-fits-all’ hypothesis that predicts a negative allometric slope between genitalia and body size. Importantly, we measured both male and female genitalia, and there was no sex-specific pattern in allometric slopes. Unexpectedly, we found no predictor for reproductive success as indicated by copulation duration, cannibalism, and leg loss.


Dharmarathne C, McLean DJ, Herberstein ME, Schneider JM.2023. Intraspecific body size variation and allometry of genitalia in the orb-web spider—Argiope lobata. PeerJ 11:e16413