Extravagant female sexual display in a Megaselia Rondani species (Diptera: Phoridae)

By

Brown, Brian Victor
Porras, Wendy

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2015-03-06

Original Publication

Biodiversity data journal

Volume

3

Pages

1--6

Subjects

Female choice , sexual selection , tropical.

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia Pensoft Publishers [2013]-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.3.e4368
eLocator: e4368

 

Abstract

The behavior of females of a species of Megaselia is described. Females perch on leaves and occasionally 'dance', fluttering their wings while rapidly running on the leaf surface. During this dance, they evert bright white abdominal sacs that apparently constitute part of a visual display to attract males. The evolutionary basis of these behaviors is discussed.