Abstract
Functional morphology of the hind legs as weapons in male contests was analyzed in the leaf-footed plant bug, Leptoglossus australis Fabricius. Measurement of some metrical tratis of the hind femur and tibia indicated that the weapon was the hind femur. Sexual dimorphism in the femoral length and width, and in the number of spines on the lower side of the femur, indicated that these parts play a significant role in male contests. It was also suggested that the length from the base to the widest part of the femur had a functional significance for male-male combat behaviors of L. australis.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 727-735 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Insect Behavior |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 1997 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Contest
- Femur
- Leptoglossus australis
- Morphology
- Sexual selection
- Weapon
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Insect Science