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Behav Processes

Title:		An alternative reproductive tactic: a parasitoid wasp gathers and guards a harem by pheromone-tagging virgins
Author(s):		Ablard KM; Schaefer PW; Gries G;
Address:		"Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6"
Journal Title:		Behav Processes
Year:		2013
Volume:		20121213
Issue:
Page Number:		32 - 40
DOI:		10.1016/j.beproc.2012.11.015
ISSN/ISBN:		1872-8308 (Electronic) 0376-6357 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) are the outcome of decisions to obtain copulations in reproductive competition. Mating tactics male insects exhibit can be based on their competitive ability, or be dependent on conditions such as a competitive setting and the spatial and temporal distribution of receptive females. When females are clustered and numerous, two or more mating tactics can coexist. We predicted that this concept is applicable to the egg parasitoid wasp Ooencyrtus kuvanae (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), because wasps emerge en masse as sexually mature adults from gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, egg masses. We reveal that male O. kuvanae exhibit two ARTs, a mate-at-once (MAO) tactic, and a harem-gathering and -guarding (HGG) tactic. MAO males invariably and immediately mate females they encounter. HGG males (i) typically mate the first receptive female they encounter, (ii) then find and assess other females, (iii) tag those without prior male contact, and finally (iv) return to, and mate with, all females they themselves have tagged. Females do not incur a direct fitness cost by mating with multiply-mated males. HGG males rely on their speed, unique tag pheromone, and on the females' rejection of HGG males except the one that pheromone-tagged them. The tagging pheromone mediates mate recognition and assessment"
Keywords:		"Animals Arthropod Antennae/anatomy & histology/*physiology Female Male Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Pheromones/*physiology Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology *Wasps/physiology;"
Notes:		"MedlineAblard, Kelly M Schaefer, Paul W Gries, Gerhard eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Netherlands 2012/12/19 Behav Processes. 2013 Mar; 94:32-40. doi: 10.1016/j.beproc.2012.11.015. Epub 2012 Dec 13"