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Temperature-Dependent Parental Investment In The Giant Waterbug Belostoma Flumineum (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae), Scott Kight
Temperature-Dependent Parental Investment In The Giant Waterbug Belostoma Flumineum (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae), Scott Kight
Scott Kight
We examined the effects of ambient temperature on the brooding behavior of male waterbugs, Belostoma flumineum Say. Male waterbugs are more likely to prematurely terminate care for small egg-pads than for larger egg-pads. Because embryogenesis and breeding season are both associated with ambient temperature, males in warmer environments may respond differently than those in cooler conditions. We studied the effects of temperature on male parental behavior by housing groups of completely and partially egg-encumbered males under different thermal regimes. Completely encumbered males rarely discarded egg-pads, regardless of ambient temperature. Partially encumbered males housed under warm ambient temperatures, however, were signiÞcantly …