Body resource allocation across sexes in paper wasps

Abstract

Evolution of insect wing traits might be promoted or constrained by differential flight demands across sexes, which are currently less explored in social hymenopterans, despite striking differences in flight behavior of males and females. We aim to test for sex specificity in wing morphometry in some Polistes wasps, a model genus in morphological and behavioral studies. We expect males to have larger mesosoma as well as larger and more rounded wings than females, as those traits are associated to improved maneuverability, essential during flight combats. We also expect males to show steeper mesosoma and wing allometric slopes compared to females, suggesting improved body resource allocation in flight related structures. Finally, we expect variation in distribution parameters should concur with the above expected differences. We will test this with geometric morphometrics, allometric analyses, and descriptive statistics. (AU)