EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
The European Journal of Environmental Sciences offers a mixture of original peer-reviewed research papers, which bring you some of the most exciting developments in environmental sciences in the broadest sense, often with an inter- or trans-disciplinary perspective, focused on the European problems. The journal also includes critical reviews on topical issues, and overviews of the status of environmental protection in particular regions or countries. The journal covers a broad range of topics, including direct or indirect interactions between abiotic or biotic components of the environment, interactions of environment with human society, or environmental sustainability.

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
published online: 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.

keywords: copulation duration; copulation latency; familiarity; female choice; individual recognition; mating experience

Creative Commons License
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
periodicity: 2 x per year
print price: 150 czk
ISSN: 1805-0174
E-ISSN: 2336-1964

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