Sexual Dimorphism in Insect Longevity: Insights from Experimental Evolution

Abstract

In species with separate sexes, gender differences in longevity are widespread and the extent and direction of these differences varies tremendously among taxa. To understand sexual dimorphism in longevity and explain how different forms of selection shape longevity and other fitness-related traits within and among species, it is important to obtain information on the genetic architecture (the number of genes and degree of inter- and intra-genic interactions) and various mechanistic causes which underlie mortality variation between the sexes. Here we review recent empirical studies on gender differences in longevity in insect species, from both mechanistic and evolutionary perspective. Whenever it was possible, we focus on data obtained from the laboratory evolution experiments because the study of evolution under controlled conditions may provide valuable evidence not only for the effects of natural and sexual selection in shaping sex-specific longevities and mortality rates but also it offers novel insights into the mechanistic basis of these differences.