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Behavioral Ecology Vol. 14 No. 4: 526-530
© 2003 International Society for Behavioral Ecology

Courtship in long-legged flies (Diptera: Dolichopodidae): function and evolution of signals

Martin Zimmer, Olaf Diestelhorst and Klaus Lunau

Institut für Neurobiologie–AG Zoologie und Didaktik der Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Universitätsstr. 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany

Address correspondence to M. Zimmer, who is now at Zoologisches Institut: Limnologie, Biologiezentrum der Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Olshausenstr. 40, D-24098 Kiel, Germany. E-mail: mzimmer{at}zoologie.uni-kiel.de.

Analyzing the courtship behavior of long-legged flies (Diptera: Dolichopodidae), we focus on the evolutionary development of courtship signals. Long-legged flies may serve as a model for this evolutionary process, because males of some species present sexually dimorphic badges during courtship, whereas others do not exhibit such conspicuous signals but present lavish courtship behavior, including dynamic flight maneuvers. A comparison of these two groups within a single taxonomic family provides insight into the evolution of courtship signals and the corresponding behavior. Males of the closely related Empididae do not possess such badges. Within the super-family Empidoidea, we propose an evolutionary shift from dynamically courting and mating on the wing (in Empididae) to courting and mating on ground (in Dolichopodidae), accompanied by signaling through badge-waving. By comparing previously published data and observations on courtship behavior in Dolichopodidae, we present the hypothesis that the latter replaced the former energetically expensive behavior as a case of automimicry and sensory trap.

Key words: courtship, Dolichopodidae, habitat selection, long-legged flies, mate choice, mimicry, sexual selection, signal evolution.


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