The Flight and Migration Ecology of the Red Milkweed Beetle (Tetraopes Tetraophthalmus)

Abstract

Laboratory experiments showed that female Tetraopes beetles possess greater flight capacity than males and that flight capacity is positively correlated with size. Take—off tendency, however, is higher in males and is negatively correlated with size. Both flight capacity and take—off tendency decline with age. Flight capacity is diminished markedly by starving for 48 h, and, in females, was not found to be influenced by oogenesis. The laboratory findings are consistent with field data showing that males move more often within patches (mate—searching flights) while females move more between patches (migration flights). The data suggest that the flight and migration ecology of short—flying sedentary species, like Tetraopes, may differ markedly from that of long—flying fugitive species.