Males of the two-spotted spider mite attempt to copulate with mated females: effects of double mating on fitness of either sex

Oku, Keiko

doi:10.1007/s10493-009-9306-7

Cited by 27 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…It should be noted, however, that spider mites do perceive intraspecific differences and act accordingly. For example, T. urticae males show a clear preference for virgin over mated females (Oku 2010(Oku , 2014.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Incomplete species recognition entails few costs in spider mites, despite first-male precedence

Clemente

Rodrigues

Ponce

et al. 2016

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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The consequences of heterospecific matings may hinge on interspecies interactions, but also on characteristics of the intraspecies mating system, namely sperm precedence. Indeed, first-male precedence may entail costs of heterospecific matings that are usually overlooked in other systems, such as fertilization of oocytes that become unavailable to subsequent conspecific males or a decrease in female receptivity. Here, we used a system composed of two co-occurring haplodiploid spider-mite species with first-male precedence, Tetranychus urticae and Tetranychus evansi, to investigate (a) the potential costs of heterospecific matings and (b) whether mites avoid heterospecific mates. We found that heterospecific matings did not result in fertilized offspring (i.e. females). Moreover, fecundity (i.e. male offspring) of heterospecifically mated females did not differ from that of virgins, indicating that oocyte viability was not affected by heterospecific males. Furthermore, heterospecific matings did not trigger behavioural changes that typically derive from conspecific matings, namely reduced female receptivity for subsequent matings. In avoidance tests, we found that T. evansi females and T. urticae males mated as often with conspecifics as with heterospecifics, whereas T. evansi males and T. urticae females mated assortatively more often. Also, latency to copulation in virgin and mated females did not differ between conspecific and heterospecific matings, but matings between T. urticae individuals lasted longer than heterospecific matings. Therefore, heterospecific matings result in few costs despite first-male precedence and, concomitantly, species discrimination is low. Still, this study highlights the need to account for intraspecific mating systems in tests of the reproductive consequences of mating with heterospecifics. Significance statementIn species where the first male fertilizes all the offspring (firstmale precedence), mating with individuals from other species often yields few benefits and entails potential costs in terms of future mating events. Yet, several species exhibit incomplete recognition of conspecifics. We here show that this is the case among two spider-mite species that co-occur under natural conditions. However, we also demonstrate that the cost of mating with the 'wrong' species is low, even though they exhibit first-male precedence.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Incomplete species recognition entails few costs in spider mites, despite first-male precedence

Clemente

Rodrigues

Ponce

et al. 2016

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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“…Accordingly, males actively guard juvenile quiescent females and mating occurs as soon as females moult into virgin adults (Potter, Wrensch, & Johnston, ), a behaviour that is consistent across species with first‐male sperm precedence (Ridley, ). In addition, when given the choice between mated and virgin females, males prefer to mate with virgins, basing their decision upon volatiles and chemical trails (Oku, ; Rodrigues, Figueiredo, Varela, Olivieri, & Magalhães, ). Nevertheless, matings involving mated females are frequently observed (Clemente, Rodrigues, Ponce, Varela, & Magalhães, ; Oku, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, when given the choice between mated and virgin females, males prefer to mate with virgins, basing their decision upon volatiles and chemical trails (Oku, ; Rodrigues, Figueiredo, Varela, Olivieri, & Magalhães, ). Nevertheless, matings involving mated females are frequently observed (Clemente, Rodrigues, Ponce, Varela, & Magalhães, ; Oku, ). Here, we provide a comprehensive account of potential costs and benefits of multiple mating for both sexes in spider mites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Costs and benefits of multiple mating in a species with first‐male sperm precedence

Rodrigues

Figueiredo

Leeuwen

et al. 2020

Journal of Animal Ecology

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Different patterns of sperm precedence are expected to entail different costs and benefits of mating for each sex that translate into distinct predictions regarding mating system evolution. Still, most studies addressing these costs and benefits have focused on species with mixed paternity or last male precedence, neglecting first‐male sperm precedence. We attempted to understand whether this latter pattern of sperm precedence translates into different costs and benefits for each sex in the haplodiploid spider mite Tetranychus urticae, a species in which female multiple mating is prevalent but most offspring are sired by first males. First, we assessed the stability of the sperm precedence pattern. To do so, we measured offspring paternity after exposing females to a different number of matings and mating intervals. Next, to determine the potential costs or benefits of multiple mating for females under different contexts, we measured the fecundity and survival of females that re‐mated at different time points. To measure the potential costs of multiple mating for males, we analysed male survival in the presence of different numbers of virgin or mated females. We also tested whether males can reduce offspring production of their competitors, by reducing the production of fertilized offspring of mated females. We found no change in the pattern of sperm precedence, independently of the mating interval between matings and the number of matings. Females paid a cost of mating, as multiply‐mated females laid fewer eggs than once‐mated females. However, while males had reduced survival when exposed to an intermediate number of virgin females, they paid no additional costs of mating with mated females. Moreover, females that mated multiple times produced fewer fertilized offspring than females that mated once. Thus, males that copulated with mated females reduced the fitness of other males, potentially leading to a relative fitness benefit for themselves. Our results show that complex costs and benefits may arise in males in species with first‐male sperm precedence. How these costs and benefits affect the maintenance of selection for polyandry remains an open question.

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“…This difference could also be a factor to cause the inconsistence. Although several previous studies referred to Ohzora and Yano (2008) and used only UM males (Oku 2010, 2013; Oku and Saito 2014; Oku and Shimoda 2013; Sato et al 2013), they did not confirm the behavioural difference between UM and M males in their own populations. It is necessary to clarify whether the behavioural difference in mate searching is universal among T. urticae populations.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 88%

Male behavioural plasticity depends on maternal mating status in the two-spotted spider mite

Oku

Beuken

2017

Exp Appl Acarol

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In haplodiploid organisms including the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae), both unmated and mated females can produce male offspring. A previous study reported that males produced by unmated females (UM males) find pre-reproductive females more quickly than males produced by mated females (M males) in T. urticae. However, it remains unclear what factors cause the difference. We investigated effects of maternal mating status on mate-searching behaviour of their sons by changing the sons’ developmental environment. In T. urticae, the primary sex ratio of mated-female colonies is female-biased. For both UM and M males, half of individuals were reared with males to imitate unmated-female colonies, whereas the rest were reared with females to imitate mated-female colonies. In UM males, individuals that had developed with males found pre-reproductive females more quickly than those that had developed with females. However, such a difference was not observed in M males. This indicates that behavioural response to the developmental environment differs between UM and M males. It means that the behavioural plasticity depends on maternal mating status. When males were individually reared, however, there was no significant difference in the mate-searching behaviour between UM and M males, indicating that maternal mating status does not independently affect their sons’ mate-searching behaviour. This study showed that male mate-searching behaviour is changed by their developmental environment and maternal mating status. This behavioural plasticity depending on maternal mating status is the first reported in haplodiploid organisms.

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Males of the two-spotted spider mite attempt to copulate with mated females: effects of double mating on fitness of either sex

Cited by 27 publications

References 16 publications

Incomplete species recognition entails few costs in spider mites, despite first-male precedence

Incomplete species recognition entails few costs in spider mites, despite first-male precedence

Costs and benefits of multiple mating in a species with first‐male sperm precedence

Male behavioural plasticity depends on maternal mating status in the two-spotted spider mite

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