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Biparental mealybugs may be more promiscuous than we thought

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 October 2018

E.B. Silva Open the ORCID record for E.B. Silva [Opens in a new window] ,
C. Mourato Open the ORCID record for C. Mourato [Opens in a new window] ,
M. Branco Open the ORCID record for M. Branco [Opens in a new window] ,
Z. Mendel  and
J.C. Franco Open the ORCID record for J.C. Franco [Opens in a new window]
E.B. Silva*
Affiliation:
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
C. Mourato
Affiliation:
Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1349-017, Lisboa, Portugal
M. Branco
Affiliation:
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
Z. Mendel
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Volcani Center, ARO, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
J.C. Franco
Affiliation:
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
*
*Author for correspondence Phone: +21.3653220 Fax: +21.3653430 E-mail: elsasilva@isa.ulisboa.pt
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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

polyandrypolygynymating systemPlanococcus citriPseudococcus calceolariae
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 109 , Issue 5 , October 2019 , pp. 574 - 582
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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