A role for copula duration in fertility of Queensland fruit fly females mated by irradiated and unirradiated males

Female remating is a widespread behaviour, reported in several insect species. This behaviour can affect the efficiency of sterile insect technique (SIT); however, little is known about the postcopulatory behaviour of some pest species considered as candidates to be controlled by this technique, such as Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura, 1931) (Diptera: Drosophilidae). In this study, we investigated the effects of male and female sterilization on mating and remating behaviour of D. suzukii. First, we tested the occurrence of multiple mating in different combinations between sterile and fertile males and females. Then, we tested the effects of male and female sterility on female propensity to mate and remate. We found an overall low remating rate by D. suzukii females. Male sterility did not influence mating and remating likelihood; however, copula duration of sterile males was shorter compared to fertile males. On the other hand, sterile females were less likely to mate. Our findings encourage further research regarding the use of SIT to control D. suzukii.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Radiation effects on Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) reproductive behaviour

Krüger

Schlesener

Martins

et al. 2018

“…After mating, females of many fruit flies exhibit greatly reduced sexual receptivity including medflies (Chapman, Takahisa, Smith, & Partridge, ; Jang, ; Kraaijeveld & Chapman, ; Mossinson & Yuval, ; Nakagawa, Farias, Suda, Cunningham, & Chambers, ; Vera, Cladera, Calcagno, Vilardi, & McInnis, ), melon flies (Kuba & Itô, ; Miyatake, Chapman, & Partridge, ), olive fruit flies (Cavalloro & Delrio, ; Tsiropoulos & Tzanakakis, ), oriental fruit flies (Landolt, ) and Q‐flies (Barton‐Browne, ; Harmer, Radhakrishnan, & Taylor, ; Radhakrishnan, Pérez‐Staples, Weldon, & Taylor, ; Radhakrishnan & Taylor, , ). SIT can be compromised if females of a pest population that mate with sterile males remate with fertile males and are thence able to produce offspring (Collins, Pérez‐Staples, & Taylor, ; Kraaijeveld & Chapman, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual inhibition of female Queensland fruit flies mated by males treated with raspberry ketone supplements as immature adults

Akter

Taylor

2018

Raspberry ketone (RK) dietary supplements accelerate the emergence of sexual behaviour in developing Queensland fruit fly (Q‐fly) males and show promise as a pre‐release supplement for use in sterile insect technique (SIT) programs. However, the value of RK supplements in SIT programs would be greatly reduced if RK‐treated males are ineffective at inducing sexual inhibition in mated females. To test the effectiveness of matings by RK‐treated males, we here investigate the remating propensity of females mated by RK‐treated (1.25% or 5% RK in food) and RK‐untreated (control) males. Tested males received RK supplements mixed in sugar and yeast hydrolysate for 2 days after emerging and then received only sugar. To test for male age‐dependent effects, virgin females were mated to treated and untreated males that were 6, 8, 10, 20 or 30 days old. To test for persistence of sexual inhibition, mated females were tested for remating propensity at 1, 7 or 15 days after their first mating. RK‐treated males did not differ from control males in copula duration, and females mated by RK‐treated males did not differ from those mated by control males in remating propensity, second copula latency or second copula duration. RK‐treated Q‐fly males not only mate at younger ages but also their matings are as effective as those of untreated controls at inducing sexual inhibition in mates.

“…Copula duration has a complex role in influencing sperm numbers and fertility in remating females (Collins et al. ) and has been shown to be under considerable female control (Pérez‐Staples et al. , ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Precocious Mexican fruit fly methoprene‐fed males inhibit female receptivity and perform sexually as mature males

Gómez-Simuta

Diaz-Fleisher

Arredondo

et al. 2016

The sterile insect technique (SIT) has been used successfully for the control of fruit flies. The efficiency of this technique can be significantly reduced when sterile released insects are exposed to adverse conditions and predators, as a great number of sterile insects die before reaching sexual maturity and thus fail to mate with wild females. Treatments with juvenile hormone (JH) analogues such as methoprene (M) significantly reduce the time to reach sexual maturity by sterile Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae) males. In this study, we compared the sexual performance of non‐treated sexually mature males with young males that had been sexually accelerated with M. Furthermore, we compared the ability of M‐fed males in inhibiting female remating compared with sexually mature males. Results showed that at 5 days M‐fed males had lower mating success than mature males; however, 6‐day‐old (0.1%) M‐fed males had the same amount of matings as mature 13‐day‐old males. Young 5‐ to 10‐day‐old M‐fed males also had similar number of matings as mature non‐treated 12‐ to 17‐day‐old males. There were no differences in copula duration between treatments. Moreover, there were no differences between the fertility, fecundity or refractory period of females mated with either young male fed M or normal sexually mature males. These results indicated that young males that were sexually accelerated with M have the same sexual performance as non‐treated sexually mature males. Implications of using M as a pre‐release treatment for A. ludens controlled through SIT are discussed.