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Seasonal changes in size, female fecundity and male potency in CULICOIDES MELLEUS from a natural population were investigated by obtaining adults from pupae collected in the field. Female fecundity was estimated from the number of eggs matured autogenously, male potency from the number of sperm ejaculated at the male's first copulation (with a virgin female). There was substantial seasonal fluctuation in both male and female size, with the larger insects emerging during cooler months. Coincident with size changes, most eggs were produced by females in the cool period, accompanied by parallel changes in the quantity of male ejaculate. However, the sperm/egg ratio did not remain constant, but showed marked seasonal change. Proportionately more sperm were ejaculated by males in the warmer months. It is suggested that the shift in sperm/egg ratio reflects an adaptation to longer reproductive life in a greater proportion of summer as compared to winter females.
Linley et al. (Fri,) studied this question.