Abstract

Abstract Many factors determine the formation of flight wings in wing-polymorphic insects. Earlier studies on a cricket (Gryllus firmus) population producing spring and summer generations showed a declining frequency of macropterous, or long-winged, adults towards the end of a growing season. Numerous confounding factors can explain this seasonal decline, one of which is increasing mortality rates of juveniles that may otherwise emerge as macropterous adults. To test this hypothesis, we measured rates of juvenile mortality and adult macroptery in Allonemobius socius Scudder (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), an organism with a seasonal phenology similar to that of G. firmus. After rearing A. socius juveniles exclusively under “spring” versus “summer” conditions and at different population densities, we found that crickets reared in groups under “summer” conditions tended to emerge as macropters, with females being more likely than males to emerge long-winged. Juvenile mortality did not adequately explain the emerge...

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