Prolonged matings in a ladybird, Menochilus sexmaculatus: A mate guarding mechanism?

Chaudhary, Desh Deepak; Mishra, Geetanjali; Omkar,

doi:10.1016/j.aspen.2015.05.003

Cited by 26 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…This may be because prolonged copula duration and/or repeated insemination provide the necessary minimum sperm quantity to maximize the proportion of eggs fertilized. Increased copula duration has been shown to increase fecundity and fertility in ladybirds (Omkar et al., ), and this increase is not linear but reaches a plateau after a certain duration, for example, 15 min in Menochilus sexmaculata (Fabricius) (Chaudhary et al., ). We report here that in Z .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Variation in copula duration has been found to be a significant factor in explaining variation in female reproductive output (Mazzi et al, 2009), because the quantity of sperm transferred is directly related to copula duration (Vahed & Gilbert, 1996;Engqvist et al, 2007). Moreover, continuing to copulate even after sperm transfer can have additional advantages for males, for example, via mate-guarding (Sillen-Tullberg, 1981;Radwan & Siva-Jothy, 1996;Gilchrist & Partridge, 2000;Chaudhary et al, 2015), sperm-loading (Dickinson, 1986;Boiteau, 1988;Weldingh et al, 2011), monopolization of mating partner for further clutches (Carroll, 1991;Alonso-Pimentel & Papaj, 1996;Schofl & Taborsky, 2002;Linn et al, 2007), and prevention of a mating partner from removing ejaculate (and/or spermatophore) prematurely (Thornhill & Alcock, 1983;Bateman & MacFadyen, 1999) either mechanically (Siva-Jothy & Tsubaki, 1989;Cordero, 1990), or indirectly via protecting against flushing of the spermatheca with rival male ejaculate (Parker & Simmons, 1991;Simmons et al, 1996). However, males that engage in prolonged copula may incur costs in the form of lost mating opportunities with additional mates, increased risk of predation, and/or lost foraging opportunities (Blanckenhorn et al, 1995(Blanckenhorn et al, , 1998Stockley, 1997;Bakker et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prolonged copula duration in the parthenium beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata: an alternative male tactic to amplify sperm transfer, reproductive attributes, and paternity outcomes

Afaq

Omkar

2017

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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Male traits are expected to evolve on the basis that they help maximize reproductive success. Prolonged copula duration is a commonly observed trait and this may sometimes be an adaptive male tactic that results in increased paternity against rival males. This study evaluated direct and indirect influences of prolonged copula duration on reproduction and offspring development in the parthenium beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Prolonged copula duration was correlated with a reduction in the time until oviposition and with increased fecundity in female beetles. Furthermore, extended copula duration was correlated with increased offspring survival and reduced offspring development times. Thus, there appear to be both direct and indirect benefits associated with prolonged copula in the parthenium beetle (i.e., increased adult reproductive performance and improved offspring fitness). Possible explanations for these reproductive benefits may be that a longer copula increases the availability of sperm for females and seminal fluid may boost maternal protein reserves which can then be invested in higher quality of offspring.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prolonged copula duration in the parthenium beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata: an alternative male tactic to amplify sperm transfer, reproductive attributes, and paternity outcomes

Afaq

Omkar

2017

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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“…In M. sexmaculatus , prolonged mating durations, beyond a limit, did not increase the reproductive output. This suggests the presence of mate‐guarding behaviour (Chaudhary et al., ). Recent studies have indicated that mate‐guarding duration of the first male significantly influences last male sperm precedence in this ladybird.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In insects, prolonged guarding by males has been reported in Odonata (Cordero, 1990), Hemiptera (Burdfield-Steel & Shuker, 2014), Phasmida (Sivinski, 1983), Lepidoptera (Drummond, 1984), Diptera (Thornhill, 1980), Coleoptera (Brown & Stanford, 1992;Chaudhary et al, 2015Chaudhary et al, , 2016, Hymenoptera (Rutowski & Alcock, 1980) and Heteroptera (McLain, 1980). In the case of crickets (order Orthoptera), where mate guarding is particularly widespread (Simmons, 1986;Sakaluk, 1991;Hockham & Vahed, 1997;Bateman & Toms, 1998;Tuni et al 2013), three main theories exist for the functioning of mate guarding, viz.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strategic mate‐guarding behaviour in ladybirds

2017

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Mate‐guarding behaviour is regarded as a means of increasing paternity share by reducing sperm competition. It is known to be a plastic response which varies with operational sex ratios and competitor presence in the vicinity. In a recent study, prolonged mating duration in Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) has been found to incorporate mate‐guarding behaviour. The present investigation was conducted to assess its plasticity in the presence of competitors. The physical and chemical presence of competitors of both sexes at varying densities was provided to a pair of ladybirds, and their time to commence mating, latent period and mate‐guarding duration was observed. These were compared to a control treatment where other partners were absent. All treatments were conducted with sibling as well as non‐sibling competitors. It was our hypothesis that mate guarding would be increased in the presence of male competitors and would be reduced by female presence. The results revealed that while mate‐guarding duration was increased by the chemical presence of males it was decreased by their physical presence. The latter result was attributed to interference by other males who dislodge the mating male in order to access the female. Female chemical presence had no effect on mate guarding, while physical presence increased the duration of mate guarding. The reasons for the latter behaviour require further investigation. Responses were not significantly affected by the relationship between the focal pair and the competitor. The authenticity of the mate guarding in this ladybird is strongly affirmed by our results.

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“…Mate guarding is known in the Arthropod classes Diplopoda [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][58][59] ; Araneae [44,[47][48] ; Acari [45-46, 61, 65] ; Crustacea [49-50, 56-57, 60, 62] ; Scorpiones [52] ; Opiliones [53] ; and Insecta, orders Orthoptera [31,51] , Odonata [26,34,35] , Phasmida [36] , Lepidoptera [21,37] , Diptera [30,38] , Coleoptera [19,20,22,27,29,39,40,[63][64] , Hymenoptera [28,41] , Hemiptera [15-18, 23-25, 42-43] . Post-insemination associations and the mate-guarding hypothesis has been previously reviewed for Insecta [32] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Instantaneous insemination in the millipede Centrobolus inscriptus (Spirobolida: Trigoniulidae) determined by artificially-terminated mating

Cooper¹

2016

J. Entomol. Zool. Stud.

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Male millipedes may control the duration of copulation and maintain genital contact with females in relation to the intensity of sperm competition. Post-insemination associations were considered in arthropods and the timing of insemination in the millipede Centrobolus inscriptus calculated by artificially-terminated radiolabelled mating. Copula pairs were separated after 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, and 30 minutes of copulation. Ejaculate volumes inseminated did not correlate significantly with the manipulated copulation durations (r = -0.35, df = 8, P = 0.35). High (ca. 2500 dpm) and low values in the first 5 minutes evidenced "instantaneous-insemination" and self-sperm displacement. Instantaneous insemination was demonstrated using artificially terminated mating in Centrobolus inscriptus by showing no relationship between ejaculate volume and copulation duration except for the high and low volumes at the beginning of mating when the male loads and seats the gonopods before adaptive mate-guarding by prolonged copulation.

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Prolonged matings in a ladybird, Menochilus sexmaculatus: A mate guarding mechanism?

Cited by 26 publications

References 46 publications

Prolonged copula duration in the parthenium beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata: an alternative male tactic to amplify sperm transfer, reproductive attributes, and paternity outcomes

Prolonged copula duration in the parthenium beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata: an alternative male tactic to amplify sperm transfer, reproductive attributes, and paternity outcomes

Strategic mate‐guarding behaviour in ladybirds

Instantaneous insemination in the millipede Centrobolus inscriptus (Spirobolida: Trigoniulidae) determined by artificially-terminated mating

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