Allocation of resources to egg production and flight muscle development in a wing dimorphic cricket, Modicogryllus confirmatus

Abstract

Egg production, flight muscle development and food consumption were compared among short-winged, long-winged and artificially de-alated long-winged adults of M. confirmatus. Ovary development and oviposition in short-winged adults were significantly earlier than in long-winged adults, but similar to long-winged adults which were de-alated at adult emergence. The dorsolongitudinal muscle in intact long-winged females increased in dry weight by 75% in 5 days after adult emergence, while that of de-alated females decreased by 80% due to histolysis. When given no food during the first 5 days after adult emergence, short-winged and de-alated long-winged females developed some eggs and intact long-winged females none. Thus, the former use the energy reserve for reproduction first while the latter use it for development and maintenance of the thoracic muscles. Under limited food conditions (≤ 8 mg/day), de-alated long-winged females produced more eggs than short-winged females, probably because the former could use the nutrient derived from the flight muscle histolysis for egg production. Intact long-winged females consumed less food than de-alated or short-winged females. This and flight muscle development may explain the lower fecundity during the early stage of adult life in intact long-winged vs de-alated or short-winged crickets.