Data from: Sex-specific manipulation of sexually cannibalistic mantid mating behavior by hairworms

Changes in the morphology, physiology and behavior of parasitized
organisms provide an ideal opportunity to examine the extended phenotype
of parasites. Since the quality of the host directly affects the fitness
of the parasite, parasites may increase their fitness by manipulating
phenotypes of low-quality hosts. Males are usually preyed on by females in
sexual cannibalism. Thus, the males of sexually cannibalistic species are
unsafe and low-quality hosts for parasites, while females may be
beneficial hosts because of the chance of nutrient intake from
cannibalized males. Under passive modes of transmission, parasites cannot
choose the host sex. Such parasites exploiting sexually cannibalistic
organisms are subjected to contrasting fitness effects and may evolve to
manipulate host mating behavior in a sex-specific manner: decreasing male
mating to avoid cannibalism and promoting female mating to engage in
cannibalism. We examined this hypothesis by a behavioral experiment using
a mantid-hairworm system. Parasitized male mantids (Tenodera
angustipennis) changed their behavior as expected, exhibiting increased
escapes and decreased courtships and mountings, potentially avoiding
encounters with the female. Interestingly, male attack behavior was
promoted, possibly decreasing contact with the encountered female.
However, contrary to our prediction, parasitized females also exhibited
decreased propensities of mating, suggesting costs or little benefits of
host mating for parasites in the female host. This study provides novel
insights into the evolution of parasite strategies in response to sexual
differences in host quality.