BODY-SIZE AND FLIGHT ACTIVITY EFFECTS ON MALE REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS IN THE PITCHERPLANT MOSQUITO (DIPTERA, CULICIDAE)

We investigated effects of body size and flight activity (cage size) on male reproductive success in the pitcherplant mosquito, Wyeomyia smithii (Coquillett). Small males were more likely to experience reproductive failure than large males; but, among reproducing males, there was no significant difference in longevity, lifetime offspring sired, or cost of reproduction between small and large males. Regardless of size, individual males in large cages experienced decreased longevity, decreased lifetime offspring sired, and increased cost of reproduction compared with males in small cages, suggesting an energetic trade-off between flight and reproductive success. Size is a less important determinant of fitness in males than in females, and this difference may underlie size dimorphism.