Arnqvist, G., T.M. Jones, and M.A. Elgar (2003) Reversal of sex roles in nuptial feeding. Nature 424: 387.

1) In many species (including some insects, birds, mammals, etc), males provide their mates with food or other resources. In doing so, they help females provide for young, thus enhancing their own reproductive success (they can produce more, healthier offspring). In addition, they are likely to be able to mate with more females and/or better females, because females often carefully select only the best mates. In the case of Zeus bugs, could females that provide resources to males reap similar benefits? What would those benefits be?

2) Explain how the scientists tested their hypothesis that females secrete food for males. What is the sample size used in the first experiment? Break it down by treatment category. Hint: “n” refers to the sample size.

3) Explain how the scientists tested their hypothesis that females only produce glandular secretions when ridden by a male. What was their sample size for this experiment?

4) Explain how the scientists tested their hypothesis that male lifespan increases when they are kept with females. How many days did starved males live on average when they were kept individually with a female? How many days did fed males live on average when they were kept with a female? What conclusion can they make from these data?

5) What are the overall conclusion that they make from this set of experiments?