Is sexually transmitted fungal infection evidence for size-related mating success in Neotropical guava fruit tlies?

Abstract

The intluence of wing length on mate preference was exanúned in natural populations of the Neotropical guaya fruit tly, Anastrepha striata Schiner, at two locations in Costa Rica. Based on evidence that the fungi are transmitted during mating, site-specific infection by Laboulbeniales fungi on the body surface was used to assess mating history. At both.sites, males and females that carrled fungi on the legs andlor on the ventral part of the thorax (males), and on both sides of the notum andlor the dorsal base of the abdomen (females), had significantly longer wings than males and females without fungi. This suggests that individuals of both sexes with longer wings (i.e. larger individuals) enjoy higher mating success. Fungus infection is more frequent in the wet than in the seasonally dry forest, possibly because hosts are .available year-roimd in the wet forest.