Size-dependent flight capacity and propensity in a range-expanding invasive insect

For capital-breeding insects, all resources available for adult metabolic needs are accumulated during larval feeding. Therefore, body size at adult eclosion represents the total energetic capacity of the individual. For female capital breeders, body size is strongly correlated with lifetime fecundity, while in males, body size, which correlates with fitness, is less understood. In capital-breeding species with wingless, flightless, or dispersal-limited females, flight potential for male Lepidoptera has important implications for mate-finding and may be correlated with body size. At low population densities, failure to mate has been identified as an important Allee effect and can drive the success or failure of invasive species at range edges and in species of conservation concern. Th capital-breeding European subspecies of Lymantria dispar (L.), was introduced to North America in 1869 and now ranges across much of eastern North America. In L. dispar, females are flightless and mate-finding is entirely performed by males. We quantified male L. dispar flight capacity and propensity relative to morphological and physiological characteristics using fixed-arm flight mills. A range of male body sizes was produced by varying the protein content of standard artificial diets while holding other dietary components constant. Wing length, a proxy for body size, relative thorax mass, and forewing aspect were all important predictors of total flight distance and maximum speed. These results have important implications for mate-finding and invasion dynamics in L. dispar and may apply broadly to other capital-breeding insects.

Automated summary

Body size in capital-breeding insects reflects the total energetic capacity of the individual, with a strong correlation between female body size and lifetime fecundity. In males, body size is less understood but may correlate with fitness. Flight potential in males is important for mate-finding, especially in species with flightless females. Failure to mate at low population densities can impact the success or failure of invasive species or conservation concern species. The study on flight capacity in male Lymantria dispar provides insights into mate-finding and invasion dynamics, which may also apply to other capital-breeding insects.