Effect of multiple mating on reproduction and longevity of the phytoseiid mite Neoseiulus californicus

Abstract

Females of some insects and mites that mate repeatedly (multiple-mated females) or that have limited food supply have a shortened life span, compared to females that are allowed to mate only once (single-mated females) or that have ample food. The present study focused on the relationship between mating frequency and various reproduction-related parameters in a commercial strain (Spical) of the phytoseiid mite Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae). The impetus for this study came from the previous finding that single-mated females displayed an extremely long postoviposition period (ca. 60 days), accounting for more than 75% of the total adult longevity. In the present study it was found that the postoviposition period in the multiple-mated females was shorter than in the single-mated females and that longevity was gradually shortened with increasing mating frequency. Total egg production in females that mated twice or more was higher than in single-mated females, but egg production did not increase further with more than two matings. Single- and multiple-mated females ceased oviposition on the 24th and 34th day of adult life, respectively; multiple-mated females produced only male progeny on and after the 30th day. The postoviposition period of multiple-mated females was 40% shorter than that of single-mated females. Yet, the postoviposition period of the multiple-mated females is still more than 30 days, suggesting that other factors besides mating frequency have an influence on the prolonged postoviposition period. The reproductive ability of the Spical strain females gradually decreased with increasing virgin period (i.e. with increasing age), but they did not lose their reproductive potential--not even when mating was delayed for more than 2 months (i.e. females remained virgin for 70 days).

Sperm Reception and Egg Production of Mating-Interrupted, Single-Mated, and Multiple-Mated Females of Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) at Different Temperatures (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

“…Similar increases in egg production have been observed in other phytoseiid species, such as T. rickeri Chant (McMurtry and Scriven, 1964) and N. bibens (Schulte et al, 1978) as well as those species mentioned above (Amano and Chant, 1978a;Gotoh and Tsuchiya, 2008;Momen, 1993;Overmeer et al, 1982;Papas et al, 2007;Tsunoda and Amano, 2001). Two life history parameters appeared to cause the increase in total egg production: higher daily egg production (as for A. andersoni; Amano and Chant, 1978a) or a prolonged oviposition period (as for N. californicus; Gotoh and Tsuchiya, 2008). Our results demonstrate that both factors were involved and operated either independently or simultaneously depending on temperature conditions.…”

“…Our results demonstrate that both factors were involved and operated either independently or simultaneously depending on temperature conditions. In many insects, an increase in total egg production with multiple matings is caused by the role of male accessory gland secretions, male-derived nutrients, and/or sperm itself (sensu Gotoh and Tsuchiya, 2008). Our results also suggest that the increase in egg production with multiple matings was due in part to the increase in the volume of sperm transferred by males (Table 1).…”

“…One mating is suffi cient to maximize the total egg production of females in a few species, including P. persimilis (Amano and Chant, 1978a;Laing, 1968;Schulten et al, 1978;Takafuji and Chant, 1976) and A. colimensis Aponte and McMurtry (Aponte and McMurtry, 1992). However, many species may increase egg production via multiple insemination; these include A. andersoni (Amano and Chant, 1978a), T. pyri (Overmeer et al, 1982), N. barkeri (Momen, 1993), N. womersleyi (Tsunoda and Amano, 2001), Kampimodromus aberrans (Oudemans) (Papas et al, 2007), and N. californicus (Gotoh and Tsuchiya, 2008).…”

Development, long-term survival, and the maintenance of fertility in Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) reared on an artificial diet

“…Repeatedly mated females often lay more eggs but have shorter longevities (Ji et al 2007;Pappas et al 2007;Gotoh and Tsuchiya 2008; but see Momen 1993). Moreover, virgin females have higher survival rates than single-mated females in Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot, Amblyseius andersoni (Chant), and Kampimodromus aberrans (Oudemans) Chant 1977, 1978;Pappas et al 2007).…”

“…Moreover, virgin females have higher survival rates than single-mated females in Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot, Amblyseius andersoni (Chant), and Kampimodromus aberrans (Oudemans) Chant 1977, 1978;Pappas et al 2007). In N. californicus, the fecundity of females decreases with the age at first copulation: females that experienced unmated periods of 56 and 70 days laid 55 and 32% of the number of eggs, respectively, laid by females that copulated immediately after emergence (Gotoh and Tsuchiya 2008).…”