| Title: | Biparental mealybugs may be more promiscuous than we thought |
| Author(s): | Silva EB; Mourato C; Branco M; Mendel Z; Franco JC; |
| Address: | "Centro de Estudos Florestais, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1349-017, Lisboa, Portugal. Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1349-017, Lisboa, Portugal. Department of Entomology, Volcani Center, ARO, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel" |
| DOI: | 10.1017/S0007485318000810 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1475-2670 (Electronic) 0007-4853 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Knowledge on the reproductive biology of target insect pest is essential for the effective implementation of pheromone-based pest management tactics. In mealybugs, the second largest family of scale insects, the existence of female multiple mating was recently suggested. In this study, we aimed at testing how general is this behavior in mealybugs, by investigating polygyny and polyandry in two cosmopolitan pest mealybugs, Planococcus citri and Pseudococcus calceolariae. Males of these species were able to mate an average of 11.9 and 13.3 females, respectively, during their lifespan. The number of fertilized females per male decreased with male age/mating history for both mealybugs. We found no differences in female fecundity and fertility, when fertilized by males with different mating history. When we used male age as a proxy of mating history, we observed a significant negative effect on female fecundity. The females of both species remained receptive after first copula and eventually mated multiple times. The percentage of remated females of P. citri decreased linearly with time since first copula, with some maintaining receptivity up to 24 h. Males showed no preference between virgin and mated females, in static-air olfactometer tests. We found no benefit of female multiple mating in relation to fecundity. In biparental mealybugs, the mating system of males is possibly scramble competition polygyny; and that of females is possibly polyandry, with female receptivity restricted to a relatively short period. We discuss the practical implications of the results for pest management" |
| Keywords: | "Age Factors Animals Female Fertility/physiology Hemiptera/*physiology Male Olfactometry Planococcus Insect/physiology Sex Attractants/physiology Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology Planococcus citri Pseudococcus calceolariae mating system polyandry polygy;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineSilva, E B Mourato, C Branco, M Mendel, Z Franco, J C eng England 2018/11/01 Bull Entomol Res. 2019 Oct; 109(5):574-582. doi: 10.1017/S0007485318000810. Epub 2018 Oct 31" |
