Life history changes associated with myrmecophily: high longevity but low fecundity in a tiny cricket Myrmecophilus quadrispinus (Orthoptera: Myrmecophilidae) living in ant nests

The lifespan and reproductive schedule of the ant cricket, Myrmecophilus quadrispinus were investigated under an ant-free condition. While most free-living crickets live 1 or 2 months, M. quadrispinus had an average lifespan of 5 months, ranging from 1 to 8.5 months. The relative size of ant cricket eggs was larger than that of free-living crickets. Female ant crickets laid on average 90 ± 42 eggs (range 13 to 144) at a nearly constant rate of 5 eggs/week throughout their long reproductive period. The ovariole number of M. quadrispinus and the congeners ranged from 8 to 18 ovarioles/female. Despite this apparently lower fecundity, host ants provide a hazard-free environment, allowing females to safely lay eggs over their long lifespan. The significance of these life history characteristics in a myrmecophilous context is discussed.