EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, Vol 12 No 2 (2022), 80–85
Female choice of mates in the aphidophagous ladybird beetle, Hippodamia variegata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): the effect of male age, sexual status and familiarity
Maryam Rajabi Faghihi, Marjan Seiedy, Omkar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14712/23361964.2022.9
zveřejněno: 25. 12. 2022
Abstract
Mating involves the transfer of sperm to females. Female reproductive investment is based on gamete numbers as well as gamete size. Females are more selective than males and this selection is based on numerous factors, like a male’s age, sexual status and familiarity. Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is an important natural enemy of many insect pests such as aphids, psyllids, whiteflies and mealybugs in many countries. We investigated female mate choice in Hippodamia variegate caging females with: (i) a young and a middle-aged male, (ii) a virgin and mated male and (iii) a novel and a familiar male. Time to and duration of copulation were recorded. Females preferred to mate with middle-aged and familiar males and did not differentiate between previously mated and virgin males. Females copulated quicker and for longer with young or familiar males.
klíčová slova: copulation duration; copulation latency; familiarity; female choice; individual recognition; mating experience
Female choice of mates in the aphidophagous ladybird beetle, Hippodamia variegata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): the effect of male age, sexual status and familiarity is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
210 x 297 mm
vychází: 2 x ročně
cena tištěného čísla: 150 Kč
ISSN: 1805-0174
E-ISSN: 2336-1964