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 3 No 2 (2013), 109–112

Mating patterns in the aphidophagous ladybird, Hippodamia variegata, depend on body size

Ahmad Pervez, Santosh Singh

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14712/23361964.2015.13
published online: 11. 12. 2013

abstract

Body size dependent mating patterns were investigated in an aphidophagous ladybird, Hippodamia variegata (Goeze), which was reared on mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.). Both males and females of varying body sizes were used to test the hypothesis that bigger is better. The costs of copulation on the life history traits of the mating partners were determined. Pairs of virgin beetles were allowed to mate once under controlled conditions and the duration of copulation of heavy beetles (504.00 ± 45.93 min) lasted significantly longer for than that of light beetles (270.00 ± 26.67 min). Body size was significantly positively correlated with duration of oviposition, fecundity and egg viability. When light individuals mated with heavy partners, copulation lasted longer between heavy males and light females (483.00 ± 54.73 min) than between light males and heavy females (378.20 ± 83.03 min). These results support the hypothesis that males determine the duration of copulation and that the reproductive success of large males is greater than that of small males. The longevity of heavy males was significantly shorter (37.40 ± 1.50 days) than that of light males (53.10 ± 2.84 days). This difference in the longevity of beetles of different sizes could contribute to the significant variation body size in H. variegata recorded both in the field and stock cultures, where light males outnumber heavy ones. Thus, although large males have a reproductive advantage over small males, other factors, such as reduced longevity, may constrain the evolution of even larger males.

keywords: reproduction; fecundity; mating duration; aphid; evolution; copulation

Creative Commons License
Mating patterns in the aphidophagous ladybird, Hippodamia variegata, depend on body size 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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