Conflict between phylogenetic inertia and sexual selection: Evolutionary maintenance mechanism of intrapopulation polymorphism of antennal segment number in insects.

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Mechanisms for development and maintenance in intrapopulation polymorphism of antennal segment number were studied in Callosobruchusbeetle species from both macroevolutionary and microevolutionary points of view. According to the reconstructed molecular phylogeny of the genus Callosobruchus, the antennal segment polymorphism independently evolved multiple times only in an African species clade. This indicates that phylogenetic effect contributed to the development of the polymorphism to some extent. Individuals with abnormal antennal segment number were selected. Mating among selection and control strains showed that having abnormal antenna was costly in females but beneficial in males. This result demonstrated for the first time that sexual conflict plays an important role in maintenance of polymorphism of not only often-reported ecological traits but also morphological traits.