Females of many species select mates based on important morphological and performance traits. This behaviour likely facilitates reproductive success thus exhibiting sexual selection. Most such studies have evaluated a single morphological variable, and only a minority of them studies the effects of behaviour and performance (functional capacity: Irschick et al., Evolutionary Ecology Research, 10, 177–196, 2008) at all. This study compares male morphological and performance traits differing in three variables that may correlate with fitness: condition index, flight ascent speed and resistance to torpor in relation to male mating success in the parasitoid wasp species Alabagrus texanus (Braconidae), a species where males swarm about emerging virgin females that display both choosy and non‐choosy behavioural phenotypes. Males that successfully mated with choosy females exhibited higher condition indices and somewhat stronger resistance to torpor than other males. Conversely, males that mated with non‐choosy females did not differ in any trait from other males we measured. Early‐arriving males did not have higher condition indices or greater mating success than other males. Thus, both morphological and performance traits contributed to male success, which acted through female choice, indicating a role for sexual selection. Patterns of choice further differed among females, independent of male traits.

中文翻译：

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蜂群昆虫的雄性形态、表现和雌性配偶选择

许多物种的雌性根据重要的形态和性能特征选择配偶。这种行为可能有助于繁殖成功，从而表现出性选择。大多数此类研究评估了单个形态变量，其中只有少数研究了行为和表现的影响（功能能力：Irschick 等人，Evolutionary Ecology Research, 10, 177–196, 2008）。本研究比较了在可能与健康相关的三个变量中不同的雄性形态和性能特征：条件指数、飞行上升速度和与雄性交配成功相关的麻木抵抗力与寄生蜂种 Alabagrus texanus (Braconidae) 的雄性交配成功相关，这是一种雄性蜂拥而至的物种关于表现出挑剔和非挑剔行为表型的新兴处女女性。与挑剔的雌性成功交配的雄性表现出比其他雄性更高的条件指数和更强的抗麻痹能力。相反，与不挑剔的雌性交配的雄性与我们测量的其他雄性在任何特征上没有区别。早到的雄性没有比其他雄性更高的条件指数或更高的交配成功率。因此，形态和性能特征都有助于男性成功，这通过女性选择起作用，表明性选择的作用。女性的选择模式进一步不同，与男性特征无关。早到的雄性没有比其他雄性更高的条件指数或更高的交配成功率。因此，形态和性能特征都有助于男性成功，这通过女性选择起作用，表明性选择的作用。女性的选择模式进一步不同，与男性特征无关。早到的雄性没有比其他雄性更高的条件指数或更高的交配成功率。因此，形态和性能特征都有助于男性成功，这通过女性选择起作用，表明性选择的作用。女性的选择模式进一步不同，与男性特征无关。