Cannibalism
Cannibalism is a form of intraspecific competition seen rarely in the majority of animal taxa, but occurs widely in arthropods (Capinera 2008, Barry, Holwell & Herberstein 2008). Cannibals themselves risk injury from the defences of their conspecifics, thus they often prey on smaller or younger individuals (Capinera 2008). The benefits of cannibalism are not always clear, especially so in sexual cannibalism.
Sexual Cannibalism
Sexual cannibalism is associated with mating whereby one partner, usually the female, consumes its conspecific (Capinera 2008). This can occur before and after mating, and even during copulation (Prenter, MacNeil & Elwood 2006), signifying perhaps the ultimate conflict of interest between the sexes (Barry, Holwell & Herberstein 2008). Species in which sexual cannibalism occurs routinely have high sex size diamorphism, whereby the female is often the larger cannibalistic sex (Welke & Schneider 2012). This is witnessed in mantids.
Mantids (Mantodea) have a well-known reputation for sexual cannibalism (Lelito & Brown 2006, Maxwell, Gallego & Barry 2010), being that it is relatively widespread with evidence that it occurs in many species (Capinera 2008). Though it is vital not to generalise too heavily as there is extensive diversity in sexual behaviour and courtship in mantids (Edmunds 1988).
Sexual cannibalism has many associated costs and benefits which are characteristically viewed from the female or male perspective (Barry, Holwell & Herberstein 2008). Evidently sexual cannibalism of the male eliminates his future mating and reproduction possibilities so imparting a clear cost, and if all is equal this creates a distinct sexual conflict (Lelito & Brown 2006). However this conflict can be abridged if female fecundity increases as a result of the cannibalisation of the male, and compensation for paternal investment is great enough to outweigh losses of future reproduction (Barry, Holwell & Herberstein 2008). Explanations for the origin and evolution of sexual cannibalism among arthropod groups and in particular mantids have led to the development of several theories (Barry, Holwell & Herberstein 2008, Maxwell, Gallego & Barry
2010).
Sexual Cannibalism
Sexual cannibalism is associated with mating whereby one partner, usually the female, consumes its conspecific (Capinera 2008). This can occur before and after mating, and even during copulation (Prenter, MacNeil & Elwood 2006), signifying perhaps the ultimate conflict of interest between the sexes (Barry, Holwell & Herberstein 2008). Species in which sexual cannibalism occurs routinely have high sex size diamorphism, whereby the female is often the larger cannibalistic sex (Welke & Schneider 2012). This is witnessed in mantids.
Mantids (Mantodea) have a well-known reputation for sexual cannibalism (Lelito & Brown 2006, Maxwell, Gallego & Barry 2010), being that it is relatively widespread with evidence that it occurs in many species (Capinera 2008). Though it is vital not to generalise too heavily as there is extensive diversity in sexual behaviour and courtship in mantids (Edmunds 1988).
Sexual cannibalism has many associated costs and benefits which are characteristically viewed from the female or male perspective (Barry, Holwell & Herberstein 2008). Evidently sexual cannibalism of the male eliminates his future mating and reproduction possibilities so imparting a clear cost, and if all is equal this creates a distinct sexual conflict (Lelito & Brown 2006). However this conflict can be abridged if female fecundity increases as a result of the cannibalisation of the male, and compensation for paternal investment is great enough to outweigh losses of future reproduction (Barry, Holwell & Herberstein 2008). Explanations for the origin and evolution of sexual cannibalism among arthropod groups and in particular mantids have led to the development of several theories (Barry, Holwell & Herberstein 2008, Maxwell, Gallego & Barry
2010).