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10-Minute Presentation

Systematics, Evolution, and Biodiversity

10-min: SysEB, Invasive Species, Diagnostics, and Pest Control

Brains, flight muscles, and mandibular glands: Sex-specific trade-offs in Nasonia wasps

Sunday, November 9, 2025
11:48 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific
Location: Oregon Convention Center, E147-148, OCC
Oral Presentation
The parasitoid wasp genus Nasonia is a powerful emerging model for analyzing interspecific and intraspecific differences in phenotype and behavior. However, the evolutionary ties between these morphological diversities remain unexplored. We conducted a series of comparative studies to test the hypothesis that sexually dimorphic anatomy and energy investment are driven by sex-specific roles in reproduction. Using high-throughput synchrotron X-ray microtomography (SR-μCT) of preserved specimens, we performed morphometric and volumetric analyses on the cranial gland, brain, and indirect flight muscle (IFM) systems across each Nasonia species (N. vitripennis, N. giraulti, N. oneida, and N. longicornis). We located a unique genomandibular gland present in all four species’ male specimens. The size of this gland was found to correlate strongly with previously known interspecific differences in courtship length and head shape. Additionally, we found substantial sexual dimorphism, with females possessing significantly larger flight muscles and brain structures (mushroom body and olfactory lobes) compared to males relative to their body size. This data suggests an energy trade-off, with males redistributing resources from flight and cognitive ability towards the development of physiological structures that aid in aphrodisiac pheromone production and courtship. This examination reveals a tangible connection between behavior, morphology, and ecology, providing a comprehensive understanding of the factors that drive sexual dimorphism and evolution.