Effects of mating on reproductive performance of Coccophagus japonicus Compere (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)

Abstract

Coccophagus japonicus Compere, an endoparasitoid of Parasaissetia nigra Nietner, has great potential for biological control. To assess the influence of mating on the reproductive performance of this parasitoid, we examined the effects of mating on ovarian development, female longevity and number of eggs laid. The results showed that the egg volume in the ovary of C. japonicus first increased and then decreased with increases in the age of female adults. The peak egg volume in the ovary of mated females occurred 2 days earlier than that of virgin females. Within the female age range of 0–15 days, the numbers of eggs at stages I, II, and III first increased and then decreased with increases in the age of female C. japonicus, whereas the number of eggs at stage IV increased. The duration of the coexistence of females and males significantly influenced the length and width of the female ovaries, and the longest ovary tube and the highest number of eggs were obtained with a coexistence duration of 0 days. C. japonicus female longevity decreased with increases in the number of matings, and the number of eggs laid by females within 15 days decreased with increasing delays in mating. In conclusion, mating can shorten the longevity of C. japonicus females, and selecting newly emerged virgin females for mating can significantly improve the number of eggs laid and the breeding efficiency of the parasitoid.

Female delayed mating has a limited impact on the reproductive output of Cerambyx welensii, a synovigenic longhorn beetle

“…There is wide evidence that increased female age at mating is a detrimental factor impacting reproductive output and fitness, even if the nature and extent of the impact have been shown to be rather variable among species. Many examples are found in several orders of insects including Diptera (Cloonan et al, 2019; Gunathilaka et al, 2023; Lord et al, 2021), Hemiptera (Lentini et al, 2018; Waqas et al, 2020), Hymenoptera (Li et al, 2021), Blattodea (Barrett et al, 2008; Moore & Moore, 2001), Coleoptera (Amoah et al, 2019; Gerken & Campbell, 2018; Maklakov et al, 2007; Wang et al, 2021; Wenninger & Averill, 2006; Zhao et al, 2021) and Lepidoptera, mostly moths (Mori & Evenden, 2013; Torres‐Vila et al, 2002, and references therein) but also butterflies (Hiroki & Obara, 1997; Zijlstra et al, 1999). A decrease in the reproductive output of females experiencing mating delay may result from the oviposition of unfertilised eggs prior to mating, oocyte resorption (oosorption) and female death before completing egg laying, but also from senescence‐mediated processes such as decreased readiness to mate, loss of appeal to males, limitations to store or manage sperm and the build‐up of oocyte degradation products interfering with sperm transfer (Proshold, 1996; Stelinski & Gut, 2009; Torres‐Vila et al, 2002).…”

Comparative demographics, population projections and egg maturation patterns of four eupelmid egg parasitoids on the factitious host Antherae pernyi

“…Given the time cost, manpower, and material resources required, it is recommended to use the females until they reach 90% of the net cumulative number in large‐scale rearing or augmentative release of parasitoids. Other environmental conditions (e.g., temperature and humidity) could also affect the longevity and fecundity of the parasitoids and should be considered for optimal rearing and use of these parasitoids on this factitious host in the future 60–63 …”

“…Other environmental conditions (e.g., temperature and humidity) could also affect the longevity and fecundity of the parasitoids and should be considered for optimal rearing and use of these parasitoids on this factitious host in the future. [60][61][62][63]…”