Genitally does it

Darryl T. Gwynne ()
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Darryl T. Gwynne: University of Toronto in Mississauga

Nature, 1998, vol. 393, issue 6687, 734-735

Abstract: Many species of insect have highly complex male genitalia — but why? There are two theories. First, the ‘lock-and-key’ hypothesis predicts that the complex genitals may serve as barriers to insemination of a different species, which would result in the production of low-quality hybrids. The ‘sexual selection’ hypothesis, however, predicts that the complex genitalia provide a signal of mate quality to the female, allowing her to store and use the sperm from the best quality mate. A new study weighs in heavily on the side of the sexual selection theory.

Date: 1998
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DOI: 10.1038/31587

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