Rahia Mashoodh

INTRODUCTION Sexual dimorphism in animals is usually attributed to sexual selection, which arises either during competition for mating opportunities or through mate choice (Clutton-Brock, 2007; Clutton-Brock, 2009). Sexual selection has a particularly marked effect on the evolution of allometry, that is, the way in which body parts scale with body size (Bonduriansky & Day, 2003; Frankino et al., 2009).

Abstract 1. Male burying beetles (Nicrophorus vespilloides) carry an additional abdominal segment and produce pheromones but otherwise the species is thought to be sexually monomorphic. Both sexes bear bright orange bands on their black elytra, which probably function as part of a warning display rather than in mate choice. 2. Although larger individuals are more likely to win contests to secure the small carrion required for reproduction, both sexes compete for this vital breeding resource.