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A new record of amphisexual care in an insect with exclusive paternal care: Rhynocoris tristis (Heteroptera: Reduviidae)

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An Erratum to this article was published on 24 June 2006

Abstract

We describe the first record of amphisexual care in an insect with uniparental male care. Male Rhynocoris tristis are noted for aggressively guarding multiple egg masses. When a male is unable or unwilling to guard eggs, a female that has previously contributed eggs returns to the egg mass and defends it until the eggs hatch. We compared the frequency and intensity of parental aggression in both sexes and found no difference in either form of guarding behavior. Evidence of amphisexual care in R. tristis provides an opportunity to quantify the cost of care in both sexes within a single species.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Lisa Thomas for encouraging us to continue her work on Rhynocoris tristis after she left science, Dr. Cyprian Ebong for facilitating our studies at the Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute, Uganda, and the University of Delaware Research Expeditions fund for financing our trip to Uganda.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, 250 Townsend Hall, Newark, DE, 19716-2160, USA

    Christy A. Beal & Douglas W. Tallamy

Authors
  1. Christy A. Beal
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  2. Douglas W. Tallamy
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Correspondence to Douglas W. Tallamy.

Additional information

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10164-006-0212-8

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Beal, C.A., Tallamy, D.W. A new record of amphisexual care in an insect with exclusive paternal care: Rhynocoris tristis (Heteroptera: Reduviidae). J Ethol 24, 305–307 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-005-0190-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-005-0190-2

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