Mate recognition in Cryptomyzus aphids: copulation and insemination

Abstract

The specificity of the mate recognition system in three species of the aphid genus Cryptomyzus (Homoptera: Aphididae: Aphidinea) that reproduce sexually on the same host plant, red currant, was studied. Mate recognition at the level of life cycle forms, sister species and more distantly related species was studied. A host race on black currant was used to determine the effect of the host plant on mate preference. The males do not have a specific courtship behaviour and matings readily occurred between different species. However, in choice tests the matings between the more distantly related species resulted only in intraspecific inseminations, and those between the sister species in a higher frequency of intraspecific, compared to interspecific, matings. In no-choice experiments mating between the more distantly related species occurred but did not result in insemination, and in sister species in a reduced insemination success compared to intraspecific matings. Thus, there is specific mate recognition in aphids, which prevents or reduces interspecific insemination but not interspecific mating. In the host races, host plant choice determined mating and insemination, and the life cycle forms did not show any difference in mate recognition.

Mate recognition in the Aphis fabae complex: daily rhythm of release and specificity of sex pheromones

“…Both of the subspecies of A. fabae used in this study have a similar morphology and colour, and are extremely difficult to identify using these features (Thieme & Jennerjahn, 1988). Courtship behaviour was not observed in A. fabae, or previously in Cryptomyzus (Guldemond et al, 1994a). Therefore, it is unlikely that colour and morphology are of general importance in mate recognition in aphids, especially as MOiler (1982) had no more difficulty crossing black A. f fabae with brown A. f euonymi E than crossing black subspecies of A. fabae with each other and hybrids between these and other subspecies have been found in the field (Thieme, 1987).…”

“…This low sensitivity to plant odours is surprising because the males are born on another host plant and have to locate the primary host before they can mate. Host plant choice by the males of the black and red currant host races of C. galeopsidis determines the females they will mate with (Guldemond et al, 1994a). Males possibly respond to different odour stimuli when flying and walking.…”

Cryptic diversity of the subfamily Calaphidinae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) revealed by comprehensive DNA barcoding

“…Considering that, there can be opportunities of hybridization between species pair during sexual reproduction on the same host-plant. Such phenomenon has been frequently reported in several taxa of aphids [71–73]. However, conducting additional ecological and molecular research is needed to verify whether barcode sharing is due to hybridization.…”

Host-associated populations in the lettuce root aphid, Pemphigus bursarius (L.)

“…This is reinforced by the females of the two species releasing pheromones at different times of the day, when conspecific males are most active (Guldemond and Dixon, 1994;Guldemond et al, 1994b). Hybridisation is further reduced by lower insemination rates for interspecific, compared to intraspecific, mating (Guldemond et al, 1994a).…”