LEWIS, S.; DEMARY, K.; Tufts UniversityN: Nuptial gifts and sexual selection in Photinus fireflies

In many fireflies, males deliver sperm in a protein-rich spermatophore that is digested within the female reproductive tract over the course of several days. This male�derived protein is used primarily to provision female oocytes, and these nuptial gifts increase female fecundity. Previous studies have shown that when Photinus ignitus females mate sequentially with several males, the last male generally fertilizes the majority of eggs subsequently laid. Male paternity success in P. ignitusdepends on male spermatophore size, with larger nuptial gifts resulting in a higher proportion of progeny sired by the donating male. Since multiple mating by both sexes appears to be the predominant mating system in fireflies, sexual conflict between the sexes over control of fertilizations may potentially drive rapid evolution of reproductive traits. Here we compare reproductive anatomy and allocation among Photinus species with different mating systems, and discuss implications for intersexual conflict.