Geometric Perspectives of Sexual Dimorphism in the Wing Shape of Lepidoptera: the Case of Synneuria sp. (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

Abstract

We investigated the sexual dimorphism in wing shape in Synneuria sp., using the tools of geometric morphometrics. This species, which has taxonomic problems, has a limited geographic distribution. In the spring and summer of 2006-2007 we collected 63 males and 58 females in farms named “El Guindo (36º50’12’’W - 73º01’25’’S) and Coyanmahuida†(36°49’28.66â€S - 72°44’1.34â€W) in the province of ConcepciÓn, Biobío Region of Chile. We photographed the right wing of each individual and constructed a photographic matrix in which we digitalized 18 morphological landmarks based on the shape and vein pattern of the wing. A multivariate factorial analysis of wing shape showed significant differences between sexes (F = 4.237; p= < 0.05) but not among localities (F = 0.169; p= >0.05), in which the sectorized landmarks indicated large contributions to wing shape in the matrix R``#7: 0.49945 and #8: 0.46818. The geometric variation demonstrated that the points in the bases of the radial veins were key characters to differentiate between sexes.