Influence of body size and familiarity on mating and reproductive parameters in the zig-zag ladybird beetle, Menochilus sexmaculatus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Canadian Journal of Zoology, e-First Articles. Body size often indicates an individual ’s quality and so mate selection is typically for larger individuals, including in ladybirds (Coccinellidae). Many organisms including ladybirds are also are known to refuse mating attempts with familiar individuals, but whether at the expense of mating with larger individuals is not clear. We ass essed the cumulative effect of body size and familiarity on mating and reproductive behaviour in the zig-zag ladybird beetle (Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius, 1781) = Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius, 1781)). For this study, individuals were separated into small- and large-bodied individuals an d allowed to mate in all possible combinations. Furthermore, following the first mating, an immediate second mating was provided to the males, with either a familiar (same as in the first mating) or an unfamiliar (new female with the same mating status) female. Mating and reproductive parameters wer e recorded. The mating duration was longer with familiar partners than unfamiliar individuals. Mating duration was shorter for the second mating, suggesting that mating and ejaculate transfer are costly, to assure higher reproductive success. In this ladybird beetle, familiarity modified mating dura tion, whereas fecundity and egg viability were influenced by body size.

Source: Canadian Journal of Zoology - December 20, 2018 Category: Zoology Authors: Priya Singh Geetanjali Mishra Omkar Source Type: research