Effect of Male Size on Calling Propensity, Song Parameters, and Mating Success in Caribbean Fruit Flies, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae)1

Abstract

Sexual selection theory predicts discriminative female mate choice based on differences in male phenotype in lek-mating species. We selected large and small males of the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), and analyzed calling sounds produced by these males. Calling propensity was significantly higher and calling song pulse train interval significantly shorter in large males. In mate choice tests, 70% of mating females mated with a large male. Additionally, the power output (sound pressure level) of precopulatory songs of successfully mating males averaged 10 dB greater than that of mounting males that were rejected by females.