Sexual dimorphism and morphological integration in the orchid bee brain.

ABSTRACT: Sex-specific behaviours are common across animals and often associated with sexual dimorphism in the nervous system. Using micro-CT scanning we standardized sex-specific brain atlases and tested for sexual dimorphism in the brain of the orchid bee Euglossa dilemma, a species with marked sex differences in social behaviour, mating strategies and foraging. Males show greater investment in all primary visual processing neuropils and are uniquely integrated with the central complex, evidenced by a strong positive covariation. This suggests that males invest more on locomotor control, flight stability and sky-compass navigation which may have evolved in response to sex-specific behaviours, like courtship display. In contrast, females have larger mushroom bodies that strongly and positively cova

SUBMITTER: Yamhure-Ramirez D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11909157 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature