Aggressive behaviour in the skyhoppers of the Australian Alps

Abstract The evolution of male-male aggression is interest because at its extreme it can be very energetically costly, leave males vulnerable to preadtors, and give rise weaponry such as exaggerated traits. In grasshoppers (Acrididae), one group stands out exceptionally aggressive, the skyhoppers ( Kosciuscola ) in which bite, kick, mandible flare, wrestle each other for access females or when are laying eggs. this study we asked whether there variation aggressive behaviour among four skyhopper species aimed determine traits used fighting bear signatures sexual selection their size, variability, allometric scaling. We found clear differences numbers types behaviours species. tristis K. usitatus were most cognatus was least only that performed ‘mandible flare’ behaviour. Mandible size larger three showed behaviour, all except , negatively possibly suggesting a functional constraint. Pronotum different ’ pronotum largest borderline positively perhaps related but nature relationship remains obscured. Our suggests further work investigates skyhoppers’ how varies with ecology, paves way establishing them model system