Difference In Allometry Between Sexes of Acheta Domesticus, House Crickets

By Cora McIntosh

Introduction
The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference in allometry of male
and female Acheta domesticus. I hypothesized that female A. domesticus would have a larger
mass then males, because of their ability to carry eggs. Because of the larger mass, it is believed
that female crickets would also have a larger femur and wider pronotum.

Methods
Continuous data from Acheta domestiucs was collected during the week of August 22nd to
th
26 , in Zeis Hall at UNC Asheville. This was a factorial design, comparing the allometry of male
and female crickets. This data collection was replicated across the Biology 134 classes, and a
total of 247 crickets measured. To randomize and avoid the same cricket being measured twice,
crickets were not placed back into their tank after they were measured until all data was
collected. The mass (mg) was measured using an analytical scale, femur length (mm) and
protonum width (mm) using a caliper.
Data was analyzed using RStudio. A t-test on continuous data were used to analyze the
distribution of mass according to sex. The pronotum width (mm) and mass (mg) for both males
and females were analyzed using correlation. The promotum width (mm) and femur length
(mm) for both males and females were analyzed using correlation. With a total of one t-test
and four correlation analyses.

Results
The mass(mg), pronotum width(mm), and femur length(mm) of 119 male and 128
female crickets, Acheta domesticus were measured. The average mass of males (294.0882mg ±
the standard deviation 84.59413mg) was less than that of females (387.3195 mg ± the standard
deviation 101.2779mg) (Table 1). There is a positive relationship between pronotum width and
mass for both male and female crickets (Figure 3). And a positive relationship between femur
length and mass for both male and female crickets (Figure 3).
According to the t-test on the distribution of mass compared to sex, there is a
statistically significant difference in mean mass. With the female A. domesticus having a greater
mean. (t = 7.8719, df = 242.28, p < .05). The width of male pronotums and the mass of male
crickets are significantly correlated (t = 3.05, df = 117, p < .05, r = .271, R2 = .0734) the r squared
indicates that 7.34% of the variance is explained by regression model. The width of male
pronotums and the length of male femurs are significantly correlated (t = 9.91, df = 117, p < .05,
r = .676, R2 = .457) the r squared indicates that 45.7% of the variance is explained by the
regression model. The width of female pronotums and the mass of female crickets are
significantly correlated (t = 4.45, df = 126, p < .05, r = .379, R2 = .144) the r squared indicates
that 14.4% of the variance is explained by the regression model. The width of female
pronotums and the length of female femurs are significantly correlated (t = 3.25, df = 126, p <
 .05, r = .278, R2 = .0773) the r squared indicates that 7.73% of the variance is explained by the
regression model.

Discussion
The prediction that female A. domesticus has a larger mass, femur length, and
pronotum width then males was correct. There is a statistically significant difference between
male and female masses, and there is a significant correlation between pronotum width and
mass, and femur length and mass.

Table 1: Summary Statistics for Male and Female Crickets

Size Traits
Mass Pronotum Femur
(mg) Width(mm) Length(mm)
Sex n 𝑥̅ sd n 𝑥̅ sd n 𝑥̅ sd
Female 128 387.3195 101.2779 128 4.611406 1.230723 128 7.905078 2.046688
Male 119 294.0882 84.59413 119 4.249412 1.011807 119 7.34437 1.774539

Table 1: Summary Statistics for Male and Female Crickets. (n = sample size, 𝑥̅ = mean, sd = standard deviation)

Figure 1: The frequency and the distribution of mass for male and female crickets,
males = blue, females = red.
Figure 2: The relationship between Mass (g) and Pronotum Width (mm) for Male and Female crickets.
The trendline shows a positive relationship between Mass and Pronotum Width for both sexes.

Figure 3: The relationship between Mass (g) and Femur Length(mm) for Male and Female crickets.
The trendline shows a positive relationship between Mass and Femur Length for both sexes.