Delayed Mating with Multiple Partners Decreases Indexes of Mating in Female and Male Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract

Delayed mating is an effective strategy that can decrease the fecundity of a pest by reducing the time that females have to mate. This disruption does not completely inhibit mating and may lead to multiple matings. The effects of delayed mating with multiple partners on different indexes of mating in female and male Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) were determined in this study. The delay in mating significantly decreased the number of matings and the mating success of both sexes and the male contribution to reproduction. Compared with the effect on female fecundity, the delayed mating with multiple partners had a greater effect on the male mate contribution to fecundity. The longevity of females and males increased significantly with a 72 h delay in mating. Linear regression analysis showed negative relationships between delayed mating and fecundity and number of matings in both sexes. Thus, delayed mating with multiple partners can disrupt the mating and reproductive potential of S. litura.

Transgenerational effects of multiple mating in Spodoptera litura Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

“…In others, however, offspring fitness was not markedly different (House et al, 2011 ; Klemme et al, 2014 ; Zajitschek et al, 2018 ). The S. litura is polygynandrous (Di et al, 2020 ). However, previous studies failed to indicate whether multiple mating by female S. litura affected reproduction and longevity in their maternal generation (Bezzerides et al, 2008 ; Klemme et al, 2014 ).…”

“…Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a serious worldwide agricultural and forest pest with high fecundity (Ahmad et al, 2007 ). Females of the species have multiple matings (Li et al, 2012 ; Wu et al, 2015 ), with paired insects mating as many as six times, with an average of 2.54 ± 0.33 matings in its lifetime (Di et al, 2020 ). In this study, we attempt to assess the benefit hypothesis of female polyandry in S. litura by measuring the effects resulting from single, multiple, and repeated matings of S. litura on the development and fitness of their offspring.…”

Role of Endocrine System in the Regulation of Female Insect Reproduction

“…Further when the sexual transfer of 20E is impeded by inhibiting its biosynthesis and partial inactivation in the males, then the oviposition is significantly reduced [32]. While in the case of Lepidoptera, the adults do not feed on rich protein sources needed for egg production [33]. In Spodoptera litura, mating results in the reduction of immunity, which in turn favors reproduction by saving the limited resources to support the high energy needed in reproduction (egg maturation and oviposition).…”