Prolonged copulation and spermatophore size ejaculated in the sulfur butterfly,Colias erate (lepidoptera: pieridae) under selective harassments of mated pairs by conspecific lone males

Watanabe, Mamoru; Nakanishi, Yoshito; Bon’no, Minetaka

doi:10.1007/bf02767325

Cited by 14 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…We show that the spermatophore size of the Glanville fritillary male butterflies increases with male weight at pupal stage and male age at first mating, but decreases with male food‐restriction at adult stage and male frequency of mating. These results suggest that males are resource restricted while producing the spermatophore and should allocate it wisely in populations where females are rare or where male‐male competition is high (Svärd & Wiklund, ; Watanabe et al ., ; Charlat et al ., ). We also show that in this species, spermatophore size is not correlated with the length of the copulation nor with the reproductive output of the female.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This has been shown in numbers of Lepidoptera including the Ant‐tended lycaenid butterfly, Jalmenus evagoras (Hughes et al ., ), the Speckled wood butterfly, Pararge aegeria (Vande Velde et al ., ), and the oriental peach moth, Grapholita molesta (de Morais et al ., ). After several matings, males may also experience fatigue, which biological signs include either the need for a recovery period before producing another spermatophore (Kaitala & Wiklund, ; Bissoondath & Wiklund, ), an increased copulation length (Hughes et al ., , but see Watanabe et al ., for contradicting results in the Sulfur butterfly), and sperm depletion or increased proportion of nonfertile sperm in the ejaculate leading to lower paternity (Charlat et al ., ; de Morais et al ., ; Kehl et al ., ). However, as shown in the small heath butterfly, Coenonympha pamphilus (Cahenzli & Erhardt, ), males may also improve their reproductive output (offspring hatching mass) by feeding on nectar and transferring amino acid‐rich spermatophores during reproductive period.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of male condition on his spermatophore and consequences for female reproductive performance in the Glanville fritillary butterfly

et al. 2017

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In butterflies, male reproductive success is highly related to the quality and the size of the spermatophore transferred to the female. The spermatophore is a capsule produced by the male during copulation, which in many species contains sperm in addition to a nuptial gift, and which is digested by the female after copulation. The nuptial gift may contribute to egg production and offspring quality, and in some cases also to female body maintenance. The production of the spermatophore, however, represents a cost for the male and, in polyandrous species, ejaculates are sometimes allocated adaptively across matings. Nonetheless, although the ecological factors affecting the reproductive success of female butterflies have been the topic of numerous studies, little information exists on the factors affecting males' contribution to reproduction, and the indirect impacts on female fecundity and fitness. We used the Glanville fritillary butterfly, Melitaea cinxia (Linnaeus, 1758) (Nymphalidae), in order to assess variation in male allocation to matings. In this species, smaller males produce smaller spermatophores, but variation in spermatophore size is not correlated with female reproductive success. We show that spermatophore size increases with male age at first mating, decreases with mating frequency and adult food-deprivation, and is not influenced by developmental food-limitation. The length of copulation period does not influence the spermatophore size nor influences the polyandrous mating behavior in this species. Male contribution to his spermatophore size is clearly influenced by his condition and adult-resource at the time of mating. Despite this variation, spermatophore size does not seem to have a direct impact on female reproductive output or mating behavior.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of male condition on his spermatophore and consequences for female reproductive performance in the Glanville fritillary butterfly

et al. 2017

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“…Furthermore, mating duration can vary depending on the degree of harassment on mating pairs by solitary males. In a study of the sulfur butterfly, Colias erate (Esper), mating pairs were frequently harassed by solitary males in the field, and mating durations increased under these circumstances (Watanabe et al., 1997). In the adzuki bean beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis (L.), harassments made mating duration short when rival males belonged to a laboratory‐derived strain and longer when they belonged to field‐derived strains (Miyatake & Matsumura, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of male harassment on mating duration in the seed bug, Togo hemipterus

Himuro¹,

Fujisaki

2011

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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Harassment on mating pairs by solitary males is usually considered an attempt by the male to (1) take over the female, (2) guard the female against further insemination (when the solitary male has previously copulated with this female), or (3) influence mating duration. Paired males of a seed bug repel harassment on mating pairs by solitary males by firmly grasping females using their legs and/or genital claspers; in this way, mating duration is prolonged. Male fertilization success increases as mating duration increases. Males of the seed bug, Togo hemipterus (Scott) (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae), use seminal substances to inhibit female remating. These substances induce protracted female refractory periods and are transferred to the females in a time‐dependent manner. Consequently, mating duration has important effects on fitness in this species. We observed harassment on T. hemipterus mating pairs by solitary males, and examined conflicts between paired and solitary males over mating duration. None of the solitary males were able to take over a mating female, and this may be due to the unique male genital structure in this species. All conflicts over mating duration resulted in wins by the paired males over the solitary males. Paired males prolonged mating durations, whereas severe harassment on mating pairs by solitary males shortened durations. We show that even though there is no immediate reward for the solitary male (i.e., it is unable to take over the mating female), this harassment behavior may be adaptive.

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“…These butterflies mostly eclose in grassland vegetation of approximately 0.3 m in height. Males cruise above the vegetation all day (except at approximately noon) to search for females, with only a few intermittent periods of resting and feeding, while females perch in the vegetation, and fly much less frequently (Watanabe et al . 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermoregulation and flying habits of the Japanese sulfur butterfly Colias erate (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) in an open habitat

Watanabe

Imoto

2003

Entomological Science

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This study evaluated the impact of the thermal environment on the flying behavior of male Japanese sulfur butterflies Colias erate searching for females in an open habitat. Thoracic temperature was monitored before and after flight. Mean thoracic temperature of butterflies immediately after landing was consistently higher than, but independent of, ambient temperature. Although ground speed of flying butterflies was different between flight types, air speed against the butterfly was similar across flight types. The excess of thoracic over ambient temperature was lower in flying butterflies than in basking ones, as predicted by a model. This difference appeared to be due to air current, which enhanced heat loss. In a laboratory study, newly eclosed male butterflies were placed under an incandescent lamp to measure their thoracic temperature at different air current speeds. The excess of thoracic over ambient temperature decreased as the speed of air currents increased. When the air current was similar to the air speed against flying butterflies in the field, a substantial decrease occurred in the operative thoracic temperature.

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Prolonged copulation and spermatophore size ejaculated in the sulfur butterfly,Colias erate (lepidoptera: pieridae) under selective harassments of mated pairs by conspecific lone males

Cited by 14 publications

References 28 publications

Impact of male condition on his spermatophore and consequences for female reproductive performance in the Glanville fritillary butterfly

Impact of male condition on his spermatophore and consequences for female reproductive performance in the Glanville fritillary butterfly

The effects of male harassment on mating duration in the seed bug, Togo hemipterus

Thermoregulation and flying habits of the Japanese sulfur butterfly Colias erate (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) in an open habitat

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