Cost of reproduction in males of a satyrine butterfly Lethe diana
2012
TAKEUCHI, TSUYOSHI
Adult butterflies feed largely on floral nectar and tree sap, both of which consist mainly of carbohydrates and include little nitrogen. They depend on the larval diet for nitrogenous resources. Consequently, there is a trade‐off between the reproductive and somatic nitrogenous investments of adults. Furthermore, male butterflies invest a considerable amount into spermatophores, containing nitrogen, which they give to their sexual partners. One way in which male butterflies could potentially replenish their spermatophores is by flight muscle histolysis, which may reduce locomotor ability and lifespan. In the present study, the effect of mating experience on nitrogen dynamics and the lifespan of males is investigated in the satyrine butterfly Lethe diana (Butler). Mated males do not have less thoracic nitrogen than virgin males, suggesting that mating experiences do not induce spermatophore recovery through flight muscle histolysis. Mated males possess less abdominal nitrogen than virgin males at death, indicating that they cannot recover the lost nitrogenous resource used for a single mating. Lifespan does not differ between mated and virgin males. Thus, reproduction and longevity are not fuelled necessarily by the same shared resource pools. Spermatophore mass increases as males get older. Considering that resources for producing spermatophores are limited, males may adjust the spermatophore mass strategically, depending on their chances of future reproduction.
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