Post-copulatory sexual selection in insects: discovering new mechanisms of male and female mate choice

In the natural world, although natural selection should favour against it, some matings don't lead to offspring production. Copulations occur, but through morphological, physiological and or behavioural post-copulatory processes, insemination isn't always successful, resulting in what is called mating failure. Mating failure is likely underreported and more prevalent than previously thought. For example, the seed bugs Lygaeus simulans are known for having 40-60% of mating failure.

Here, we will focus on the role that post-copulatory sexual selection play in mating failure in L. simulans. Through environment and diet manipulations, we will investigate how aposematic colouration, pheromones and cuticular hydrocarbons (CHC) profiles influence post-copulatory mate choice. We will look at both males and females but will concentrate on cryptic male choice which has received considerably less attention.

As males from this family have been shown to transfer more sperm and mate for longer with larger females, and despite traditional views, we expect that males could choose not to inseminate females during copulation.

Findings from this project could help reinterpret our general understanding of mating systems by giving new insights in the role of male and female mate choice throughout mating, from searching for a mate to offspring production. Moreover, these findings could also shed light on new ways of studying infertility in animals.