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Balampekou EI, Koveos DS, Kapranas A, Menexes GC, Kouloussis NA. The Roles of Mating, Age, and Diet in Starvation Resistance in Bactrocera oleae (Olive Fruit Fly). INSECTS 2023; 14:841. [PMID: 37999040 PMCID: PMC10672083 DOI: 10.3390/insects14110841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae)), although a pest of major economic importance for the olive industry, has not been sufficiently studied with respect to the factors affecting its survival resistance to food deprivation. In the present study, we examined the effect of the interaction between mating status (virgin/mated), age class (11-20/21-30/31-40/41-50), and diet quality (protein plus sugar or only sugar) on starvation resistance in B. oleae under constant laboratory conditions. We conducted a total of 16 treatments (2 × 4 × 2 = 16) for each gender. Our results showed that starvation resistance in B. oleae did not differ significantly between females and males. The main conclusions of our study regarding mating status, age, and diet indicated that mated adults showed much less starvation resistance compared to virgins, younger adults endured longer, and the adults fed a restricted diet endured longer than those fed a full diet. A three-way interaction between mating status, diet, and age class was also identified and was the same for both genders. The interaction between mating status, age class, and diet also had a significant influence on starvation resistance in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Nikos A. Kouloussis
- School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (E.I.B.); (D.S.K.); (A.K.); (G.C.M.)
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Abstract
Mating produces profound changes in the behavior of female flies, such as an increase in oviposition, reduction in sexual receptivity, increase in feeding, and even excretion. Many of these changes are produced by copulation, sperm, and accessory gland products that males transfer to females during mating. Our knowledge on the function of the male ejaculate and its effect on female insects is still incipient. In this article, we review peri- and postcopulatory behaviors in tephritid flies. We address the effects of male copulatory behavior; copula duration; and the male ejaculate, sperm, and accessory gland products on female remating behavior. Many species from these families are pests of economic importance; thus, understanding male mating effects on female behavior contributes to both developing more effective environmentally friendly control methods and furthering our understanding of evolutionary implications of intersexual competition and sexual conflict.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Solana Abraham
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Ecoetológicas de Moscas de la Fruta y sus Enemigos Naturales (LIEMEN), PROIMI-Biotecnología, CONICET, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
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Cargnelutti F, Calbacho-Rosa L, Córdoba-Aguilar A, Peretti AV. Successive matings affect copulatory courtship but not sperm transfer in a spider model. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blab157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Previous studies have reported that males augment their reproductive success by increasing the number of females with which they copulate, and that such copulations are not energetically demanding in terms of trivial sperm production costs. However, we now know that males do pay reproductive costs. As males mate successively, a reduction in the performance of copulatory behaviours would be expected, as well as in the number of sperm transferred. Here we compared the duration of courtship, mating and post-insemination phase, the number of genital and non-genital copulatory courtship occurrences, and the number of sperm transferred in successive matings in Holocnemus pluchei spider males. As matings increased in males, there was no effect on the duration of courtship, mating or post-insemination phase. Interestingly, genital copulatory courtship varied in successive copulations depending on male size, but there was no change in the number of sperm transferred. In addition, the occurrence of non-genital copulatory courtship decreased along successive copulations. The negative effects of successive matings on copulatory courtship indicate that these behaviours are costly for males, except for the number of sperm transferred. Our research lays the foundation for future studies on male costs as a function of mating history in spiders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco Cargnelutti
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Departamento de Diversidad Biológica y Ecología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas Técnicas (CONICET), Laboratorio de Biología Reproductiva y Evolución, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Lucia Calbacho-Rosa
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Departamento de Diversidad Biológica y Ecología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas Técnicas (CONICET), Laboratorio de Biología Reproductiva y Evolución, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Alex Córdoba-Aguilar
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. Postal 70-275, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Ciudad de México, México
| | - Alfredo Vicente Peretti
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Departamento de Diversidad Biológica y Ecología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas Técnicas (CONICET), Laboratorio de Biología Reproductiva y Evolución, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), Córdoba, Argentina
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Shadmany J, Lee SF, Taylor PW. Real-time PCR-based Y-specific sperm quantification assay in Queensland fruit fly: Insights to patterns of sperm storage. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 30:315-324. [PMID: 33527600 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Studies of reproductive biology in insects often require quantification of sperm production, transfer or storage. Here, we develop a quantitative real-time PCR-based assay using a Y-specific marker for quantification of sperm from spermathecae of female Queensland fruit fly ('Q-fly'), overcoming constraints typical of traditional sperm quantification methods. The assay enables accurate and reliable quantification of as few as 50 sperms and provides a means to analyse large numbers of samples with flexible timing. The real-time PCR method enables revised understanding of how many sperms are stored by female Q-flies, the distribution of storage between the two spermathecae and the relationship between copula duration and sperm storage. Real-time PCR assays based on Y-specific markers provide an effective solution for sperm quantification in tephritid flies, as well as in other insects and potentially other animals with sperm storage organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Shadmany
- Applied BioSciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - S F Lee
- Applied BioSciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Black Mountain, ACT, Australia
| | - P W Taylor
- Applied BioSciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
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Hoffmann L, Hull KL, Bierman A, Badenhorst R, Bester-van der Merwe AE, Rhode C. Patterns of Genetic Diversity and Mating Systems in a Mass-Reared Black Soldier Fly Colony. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12060480. [PMID: 34064077 PMCID: PMC8224309 DOI: 10.3390/insects12060480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, is a promising candidate for the emerging insect farming industry with favourable characteristics for both bioremediation and production of animal delivered nutritive and industrial compounds. The genetic management of commercial colonies will become increasingly important for the sustainability of the industry. However, r-selected life history traits of insects pose challenges to conventional animal husbandry and breeding approaches. In this study, the long-term genetic effects of mass-rearing were evaluated as well as mating systems in the species to establish factors that might influence genetic diversity, and by implication fitness and productivity in commercial colonies. Population genetic parameters, based on microsatellite markers, were estimated and compared amongst two temporal wild sampling populations and four generations (F28, F48, F52, and F62) of a mass-reared colony. Furthermore, genetic relationships amongst mate pairs were evaluated and parentage analysis was performed to determine the oc-currence of preferential mate choice and multiple paternity. The mass-reared colony showed a reduction in genetic diversity and evidence for inbreeding with significant successive generational genetic differentiation from the wild progenitor population. Population-level analysis also gave the first tentative evidence of positive assortative mating and genetic polyandry in BSF. The homoge-neity of the mass-reared colony seems to result from a dual action caused by small effective popu-lation size and increased homozygosity due to positive assortative mating. However, the high ge-netic diversity in the wild and a polyandrous mating system might suggest the possible restoration of diversity in mass-reared colonies through augmentation with the wild population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lelanie Hoffmann
- Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; (L.H.); (K.L.H.); (A.E.B.-v.d.M.)
| | - Kelvin L. Hull
- Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; (L.H.); (K.L.H.); (A.E.B.-v.d.M.)
| | - Anandi Bierman
- Insect Technology Group Holdings UK Ltd., 1 Farnham Road, Guildford GU2 4RG, UK; (A.B.); (R.B.)
| | - Rozane Badenhorst
- Insect Technology Group Holdings UK Ltd., 1 Farnham Road, Guildford GU2 4RG, UK; (A.B.); (R.B.)
| | - Aletta E. Bester-van der Merwe
- Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; (L.H.); (K.L.H.); (A.E.B.-v.d.M.)
| | - Clint Rhode
- Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; (L.H.); (K.L.H.); (A.E.B.-v.d.M.)
- Correspondence:
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Tsoumani KT, Belavilas-Trovas A, Gregoriou ME, Mathiopoulos KD. Anosmic flies: what Orco silencing does to olive fruit flies. BMC Genet 2020; 21:140. [PMID: 33339492 PMCID: PMC7747369 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-020-00937-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae) is the most destructive pest of the olive cultivation worldwide causing significant production losses and olive fruit impoverishment, as its larvae feed exclusively on the olive fruit. Reproductive and sexual behavior, as well as host-plant recognition of the fly, are highly dependent on its chemosensory system. Therefore, exploring the role of genes that play a critical role in olfaction, could reveal potential molecular targets that determine species-specific features on chemical communication and could be used to impair sexual behavior. Results In this study we identified the gene that encodes the conserved olfactory co-receptor Orco (Odorant receptor co-receptor), which interacts with all divergent insect odorant receptors, and investigated how disruption of its expression affects chemoreception. We initially searched the expression profile of Bo-Orco in both sexes during sexual maturation, as well as pre- and post-mating communication by relative quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis suggesting that Bo-Orco was abundantly expressed in sexually mature adults. We further investigated the functional role of Bo-Orco in mating and oviposition behavior via transient gene silencing that was performed through in vivo dsRNA hemolymph injections in sexually mature flies 7 days after eclosion. Orco-knockdown phenotypes in both sexes showed reduced copulation rates in mating competitiveness tests, possibly through impaired olfactory-mediated detection of sex pheromone. In addition, oviposition was significantly inhibited in dsRNA-Orco injected females in a post-mating behavior test. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that Orco plays a crucial role in the reproductive behavior of the olive fruit fly, since pre- and post-mating processes were affected. This is the first report in the olive fruit fly that links the chemosensory pathway with the mating behavior and the reproductive potential at a molecular basis, rendering this gene a potential target for the improvement of the olive fruit fly population control techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantina T Tsoumani
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, 41500, Larissa, Greece
| | | | - Maria-Eleni Gregoriou
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, 41500, Larissa, Greece
| | - Kostas D Mathiopoulos
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, 41500, Larissa, Greece.
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Abraham S, Moyano A, Murillo Dasso S, Van Nieuwenhove G, Ovruski S, Pérez-Staples D. Male accessory gland depletion in a tephritid fly affects female fecundity independently of sperm depletion. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-02835-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Dubey A, Saxena S, Mishra G, Omkar. Mating experience influences mate choice and reproductive output in an aphidophagous ladybird, Menochilus sexmaculatus. ANIM BIOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1163/15707563-17000128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Information about mating status can be used to decide about whether to invest resources in mating with a particular partner. In the present study, we evaluated mate choice in relation to the mating experience of males and females of Menochilus sexmaculatus. We subjected both unmated and multiply mated males and females to different mate choice trials. The mating experience of the adults includes unmated, once-mated, twice-mated and multiply mated. The mate choice trials revealed that unmated adults were preferred over mated adults by both unmated and multiply mated partners. This preference for unmated partners also had consequences for mating behaviour and reproductive output. Unmated and multiply mated females commenced mating with unmated males earlier. In addition, unmated and multiply mated males invested more time in copula with unmated females. Moreover, females mated with unmated males were more fecund than those mated with previously mated males. This suggests that mating experience of mates may influence mating and reproductive behaviour in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Dubey
- Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226007, India
| | - Swati Saxena
- Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226007, India
| | - Geetanjali Mishra
- Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226007, India
| | - Omkar
- Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226007, India
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Kouloussis NA, Damos PT, Ioannou CS, Tsitsoulas C, Papadopoulos NT, Nestel D, Koveos DS. Age Related Assessment of Sugar and Protein Intake of Ceratitis capitata in ad libitum Conditions and Modeling Its Relation to Reproduction. Front Physiol 2017; 8:271. [PMID: 28533753 PMCID: PMC5420582 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In the inquiry on the age related dietary assessment of an organism, knowledge of the distributional patterns of food intake throughout the entire life span is very important, however, age related nutritional studies often lack robust feeding quantification methods due to their limitations in obtaining short-term food-intake measurements. In this study, we developed and standardized a capillary method allowing precise life-time measurements of food consumption by individual adult medflies, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae), under laboratory conditions. Protein or sugar solutions were offered via capillaries to individual adults for a 5 h interval daily and their consumption was measured, while individuals had lifetime ad libitum access to sugar or protein, respectively, in solid form. Daily egg production was also measured. The multivariate data-set (i.e., the age-dependent variations in the amount of sugar and protein ingestion and their relation to egg production) was analyzed using event history charts and 3D interpolation models. Maximum sugar intake was recorded early in adult life; afterwards, ingestion progressively dropped. On the other hand, maximum levels of protein intake were observed at mid-ages; consumption during early and late adult ages was kept at constant levels. During the first 30 days of age, type of diet and sex significantly contributed to the observed difference in diet intake while number of laid eggs varied independently. Male and female adult longevity was differentially affected by diet: protein ingestion extended the lifespan, especially, of males. Smooth surface models revealed a significant relationship between the age dependent dietary intake and reproduction. Both sugar and protein related egg-production have a bell-shaped relationship, and the association between protein and egg-production is better described by a 3D Lorenzian function. Additionally, the proposed 3D interpolation models produced good estimates of egg production and diet intake as affected by age, providing us with a reliable multivariate analytical tool to model nutritional trends in insects, and other organisms, and their effect upon life history traits. The modeling also strengthened the knowledge that egg production is closely related to protein consumption, as suggested by the shape of the medfly reproduction-response function and its functional relationship to diet intake and age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikos A Kouloussis
- Laboratory of Applied Zoology and Parasitology, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiThessaloniki, Greece
| | - Petros T Damos
- Laboratory of Applied Zoology and Parasitology, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiThessaloniki, Greece
| | - Charalambos S Ioannou
- Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of ThessalyVolos, Greece
| | - Constantinos Tsitsoulas
- Laboratory of Applied Zoology and Parasitology, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiThessaloniki, Greece
| | - Nikos T Papadopoulos
- Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of ThessalyVolos, Greece
| | - David Nestel
- Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Volcani CenterBet Dagan, Israel
| | - Dimitris S Koveos
- Laboratory of Applied Zoology and Parasitology, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiThessaloniki, Greece
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Gerofotis CD, Ioannou CS, Nakas CT, Papadopoulos NT. The odor of a plant metabolite affects life history traits in dietary restricted adult olive flies. Sci Rep 2016; 6:28540. [PMID: 27339862 PMCID: PMC4919778 DOI: 10.1038/srep28540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Food quality shapes life history traits either directly or through response of individuals to additional environmental factors, such as chemical cues. Plant extracts used as food additives modulate key life history traits; however little is known regarding such effects for olfactory chemical cues. Exploiting an interesting experimental system that involves the olive fly (Bactrocera oleae) and the plant metabolite α-pinene we asked whether exposure of adults to this compound modulates adult longevity and female reproduction in similar manner in a stressful - dietary (protein) restricted (DR) and in a relaxed- full diet (FD) feeding environment. Accordingly, we exposed males and females to the aroma of α-pinene and measured lifespan and age-specific fecundity in the above two dietary contexts. Our results demonstrate that exposure to α-pinene increased longevity in males and fecundity in females only under dietary restricted conditions. In relaxed food conditions, females exposed to α-pinene shifted high egg-laying towards younger ages compared to non-exposed ones. This is the first report demonstrating that a plant compound affects key life history traits of adult olive flies through olfaction. These effects are sex-specific and more pronounced in dietary restricted adults. Possible underlying mechanisms and the ecological significance are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos D Gerofotis
- Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, Phytokou St., 38446 N. Ionia Magnisia, Greece
| | - Charalampos S Ioannou
- Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, Phytokou St., 38446 N. Ionia Magnisia, Greece
| | - Christos T Nakas
- Laboratory of Biometry, Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, Phytokou St., 38446 N. Ionia Magnisia, Greece.,University Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Centre of Laboratory Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nikos T Papadopoulos
- Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, Phytokou St., 38446 N. Ionia Magnisia, Greece
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