Dysdercus andreae displays a natural tendency to form aggregations. As a result of increased encounters between males and females of breeding age, aggregations frequently function as a vehicle for sexual selection. As a rule, aggregations are areas of intense male competition, and it has been demonstrated that an increase (or decrease) in competition alters the mating behaviors of the individuals involved (Carroll & Loye). To test this hypothesis in D. andreae, a study was conducted at CNU in which the sex ratios of adult cotton stainers were manipulated and various parameters related to mating behavior were monitored. Over a five-month period, a total of 51 trials that included 291 individuals insects were used to generate over 13,000 observations. (work done by student A.Scott Bellows)

hgrau@cnu.edu