Costs and benefits of multiple mating in the beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (F) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

• Main Author: Lobley-Taylor, Tiffany J. B.
• Published: University of Leicester 2000
• Subjects: 595.76
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.696781

Two geographical strains of Callosobruchus maculatus beetles with contrasting life histories were compared. Female Callosobruchus maculatus beetles were manipulated to experience four different mating treatments. Multiple mating in a Brazil strain increased fecundity but decreased longevity of females. Multiple mating by Brazil-strain parents also reduced the longevity of their singly mated offspring. In contrast, multiple mating in a South India strain had no effect on longevity or fecundity of female parents or their singly mated offspring. South-India-strain females mated more frequently than Brazil-strain females when mating opportunities were limited but not when females had constant access to males. Mating frequency decreased in Brazil-strain females when presented the virgin males. In contrast, South-India-strain females mated more frequently on the second and third days when presented with virgin South-India-strain males. Brazil-strain males mated for longer and males transferred proportionally larger spermatophores than South-India-strain males. Spermatophore mass was positively correlated with male emergence mass for the South-India-strain males only. These differences are interpreted in relation to the contrasting life-history strategies of the two strains and trade-offs between the fitness components of longevity and fecundity.