Female and male reproductive traits co-evolve through pre- post-copulatory sexual selection conflict. Although males typically transfer many sperm during copulation, only a small proportion reach the fertilization site because females often actively or passively reduce number in their tract. Males may accessory substances to protect ejaculates against female selective processes, which benefits ...

Avermectins are potent and popular veterinary pharmaceuticals used globally to fight parasites of livestock and humans. By disturbing ion channel transport through the membrane, avermectins are effective against endo- and ectoparasitic round and horsehair worms (Nematoida), insects, or ticks (Arthropoda), but not against Plathelminthes, including flatworms (Trematoda) and tapeworms (Cestoda), o...

Feces is an abundant, rich source of energy, utilized by a myriad of organisms, not least by members of the order Diptera, i.e., flies. How Drosophila melanogaster reacts to fecal matter remains unclear. Here, we examined oviposition behavior toward a range of fecal samples from mammals native to the putative Southeast African homeland of the fly. We show that D. melanogaster display a strong o...

for a tip on preparing the sperm storage organ of female aphids and pictures of Euceraphis betulae and Uroleucon cichorii that have been presented during a talk at Rennes (France); Geoffrey A. Parker for discussing his old and classic publications on yellow dung flies with me via e-mail; Sebastian Domhof for precious statistical advice as well as Lars Reimer for helpful chats on statistics; Ang...

Copula duration (t) decreases, and proportional rate of sperm transfer (c) increases, with larger male body size in dung flies, so their dimensionless product (c. t) is approximately constant (approximately 2.2). The most recent copulating male fertilizes about 89% of the eggs laid (= 1 - e(-c.t) = 1 - e(-2.2)), independent of his body size. The conditions under which natural selection favors t...

The influence of early arriving species on the establishment and activity later ones (the priority effect) is a key issue in ecological succession. Priority effects have been extensively studied communities subject to autotrophic succession (plants, sessile animals), but only sporadically heterotrophic (e.g. dung or carrion inhabiting communities). We successional colonizers late by manipulatin...