de Souza, André R.Santos, Eduardo F. [UNESP]Baptista, Camila F.Dias, GlendaNascimento, Fábio S.Lino-Neto, José2023-07-292023-07-292022-01-01Ethology Ecology and Evolution.1828-71310394-9370http://hdl.handle.net/11449/247700Diversification of sperm design is a common feature in animals. Considerable intra-individual variation has been detected even in species whose males produce a monomorphic sperm. The evolutionary forces that shape the variation in the gross morphology of these gametic cells are still not completely understood. Previous studies suggest that the intra-individual variation in sperm size reduces as a result of post-copulatory sexual selection. To our knowledge, for the first time, we provide evidence here that pre-copulatory sexual selection can also play a role. By studying the Neotropical paper wasp, Polistes simillimus, a monandrous species, we found reduced variation in sperm length in males bearing sexual ornamentation preferred by females. Besides, the female spermatheca contains a less variable sperm compared to that in the male seminal vesicles. Thus, the scope of selection, acting on this sperm trait, seems broader than previously acknowledged.engfemale choicemelanin-based sexual ornamentationPolistespre-copulatory sexual selectionsocial insectsperm morphologyArtigo10.1080/03949370.2022.21200832-s2.0-85139159610