1
|
Hickin M, Nadel H, Carlson J, Conway H. Effects of adult-diet modifications on sexual maturation rate, body weight, and quantity of sperm transfer by male Mexican fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae). JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 116:1110-1118. [PMID: 37294657 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toad106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mass-reared sterile Mexican fruit flies (Anastrepha ludens [Loew]) are released along the US-Mexico border to control fruit fly damage and spread. It is more cost effective for the mass rearing program if males mature at a younger age because they can be held for a shorter time at the facility before release. In this study, adult male Mexican fruit fly diets were tested to determine if the current diet used at the mass rearing facility promotes younger mating and optimal sperm transfer compared to other diet formulations. Hydrolyzed yeast presentation methods were examined: an agar-free dry mixture of yeast and sugar (Y+S), yeast embedded in the diet during the agar boiling process (current method used) and sifted dry on the ager gel surface. Methoprene, a juvenile hormone analog was also tested as a supplement to agar gel diets with and without yeast. A greater proportion of males fed Y+S mated 1 day earlier than males fed other diets. Male mating age and diet did not significantly affect the quantity of sperm transferred; however, a non-significantly higher percentage of males fed diets with embedded yeast transferred enough sperm to fill all 3 spermathecae. The results suggest that the current diet used is optimal for mass-rearing the flies and that yeast presentation method has a significant effect on A. ludens male mating age but not on the quantity of sperm transferred to females.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mauri Hickin
- Forest Pest Methods Laboratory, USDA APHIS PPQ S&T, 1398 West Truck Road, Buzzards Bay, MA 02542, USA
| | - Hannah Nadel
- Forest Pest Methods Laboratory, USDA APHIS PPQ S&T, 1398 West Truck Road, Buzzards Bay, MA 02542, USA
| | - Jason Carlson
- Insect Management and Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T, 22675 N. Moorefield Road, Edinburg, TX 78541, USA
| | - Hugh Conway
- Insect Management and Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T, 22675 N. Moorefield Road, Edinburg, TX 78541, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Polyandrous Mexican Fruit Flies: Second Male Paternity and Biological Attributes of Transgenic Strains. INSECTS 2021; 13:insects13010005. [PMID: 35055847 PMCID: PMC8778255 DOI: 10.3390/insects13010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The Mexican fruit fly is an important pest of certain fruits. As part of its control, the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is used. This is an environmentally friendly means of control where insects are mass-reared, sterilized, and then released into areas where the pest is found. Sterile insects are dyed with a fluorescent pigment before release, to distinguish them from the wild population. The efficiency of this technique can be diminished if wild females first mate with a sterile male and then with a wild male. For the Mexican fruit fly, several transgenic strains have been developed that express a fluorescent protein marker for field detection, and are also used as reporters in the creation of strains with complex genetic systems. Here, we report on the biological attributes, mating competitiveness, and the proportion of paternity gained by the second male in twice-mated females with males from two transgenic strains. We found that the males expressing green florescence (443-G) had a better overall performance than the males expressing red fluorescence (419-R). We also found that females produced progeny mostly from the second male to mate with her. This could affect release ratios and diminish the efficiency of the SIT if wild females mate first with a sterile male but remate with a wild male, as she will then lay fertile eggs. These findings are helpful towards delimiting which strains can be used in the future, and determining the proportion of sterile to wild individuals that need to be released in affected areas, for the more efficient control of the Mexican fruit fly. Abstract Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a damaging agricultural pest. Currently, the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is used as part of its control. The SIT consists of the mass-rearing, sterilization, and release of insects in target areas. Sterile males mate with wild females, and prevent them from laying fertile eggs. However, even if females mate with sterile males, they can then remate with a second male. If this second male is wild, then this could reduce the efficiency of the SIT by producing viable offspring. The amount of progeny produced by second males (P2 values) for A. ludens is unknown. Here, we evaluated the biological attributes, mating competitiveness, and the proportion of male paternity gained by the second male, using strains that carry fluorescent marker genes and can be potentially used to develop transgenic sexing strains. Furthermore, the transgenic strains were irradiated, to test their ability to induce sterility in females. We found that the 443-G strain had significantly higher larval survival than the 419-R strain. No significant difference was found between the two strains in their mating probability with wild females. We found P2 values between 67 and 74% for the 419-R and the 443-G strain, respectively. Second male sperm precedence only decreased slightly after 12 days, suggesting that sperm from the first and second male is not mixing with time, but rather the second male’s sperm prevails. Furthermore, sterile 443-G males induced significantly higher sterility in females than sterile males from the 419-R strain. The apparent lower ability of the 443-G strain to inhibit female remating should be further investigated. Knowledge of the pre and postcopulatory performance of transgenic strains will help in understanding their potential for control.
Collapse
|
4
|
Sirot L, Bansal R, Esquivel CJ, Arteaga-Vázquez M, Herrera-Cruz M, Pavinato VAC, Abraham S, Medina-Jiménez K, Reyes-Hernández M, Dorantes-Acosta A, Pérez-Staples D. Post-mating gene expression of Mexican fruit fly females: disentangling the effects of the male accessory glands. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 30:480-496. [PMID: 34028117 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Mating has profound physiological and behavioural consequences for female insects. During copulation, female insects typically receive not only sperm, but a complex ejaculate containing hundreds of proteins and other molecules from male reproductive tissues, primarily the reproductive accessory glands. The post-mating phenotypes affected by male accessory gland (MAG) proteins include egg development, attraction to oviposition hosts, mating, attractiveness, sperm storage, feeding and lifespan. In the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens, mating increases egg production and the latency to remating. However, previous studies have not found a clear relationship between injection of MAG products and oviposition or remating inhibition in this species. We used RNA-seq to study gene expression in mated, unmated and MAG-injected females to understand the potential mating- and MAG-regulated genes and pathways in A. ludens. Both mating and MAG-injection regulated transcripts and pathways related to egg development. Other transcripts regulated by mating included those with orthologs predicted to be involved in immune response, musculature and chemosensory perception, whereas those regulated by MAG-injection were predicted to be involved in translational control, sugar regulation, diet detoxification and lifespan determination. These results suggest new phenotypes that may be influenced by seminal fluid molecules in A. ludens. Understanding these influences is critical for developing novel tools to manage A. ludens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Sirot
- The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, USA
| | - R Bansal
- USDA-ARS, San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center, Parlier, CA, USA
| | - C J Esquivel
- Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH, USA
| | - M Arteaga-Vázquez
- INBIOTECA, Universidad Veracruzana, Av de las Culturas Veracruzanas 101, Col. Emiliano Zapata, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - M Herrera-Cruz
- CONACyT- Facultad de Medicina y Cirugía, Universidad Autónoma "Benito Juárez" de Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
| | - V A C Pavinato
- Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH, USA
| | - S Abraham
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Ecoetológicas de Moscas de la Fruta y sus Enemigos Naturales (LIEMEN), PROIMI, Tucumán, Argentina, CONICET, Argentina
| | - K Medina-Jiménez
- INBIOTECA, Universidad Veracruzana, Av de las Culturas Veracruzanas 101, Col. Emiliano Zapata, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - M Reyes-Hernández
- INBIOTECA, Universidad Veracruzana, Av de las Culturas Veracruzanas 101, Col. Emiliano Zapata, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - A Dorantes-Acosta
- INBIOTECA, Universidad Veracruzana, Av de las Culturas Veracruzanas 101, Col. Emiliano Zapata, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - D Pérez-Staples
- INBIOTECA, Universidad Veracruzana, Av de las Culturas Veracruzanas 101, Col. Emiliano Zapata, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Malod K, Roets PD, Bosua H, Archer CR, Weldon CW. Selecting on age of female reproduction affects lifespan in both sexes and age-dependent reproductive effort in female (but not male) Ceratitis cosyra. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03063-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
|
6
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Esfandi K, He XZ, Wang Q. Sperm allocation strategies in a sperm heteromorphic insect. Curr Zool 2020; 66:285-292. [PMID: 32440289 PMCID: PMC7234108 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoz048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Theories predict that in polyandrous species, the focal male should increase sperm allocation per mate in the presence of rivals to gain greater share of paternity, but in the presence of additional mates, he should reduce sperm allocation per mate to save sperm for insemination of more mates. However, empirical findings are often inconsistent and reasons behind are unclear. Furthermore, many studies use copulation duration as an estimate of the number of sperm transferred. Yet, empirical evidence for such assumption is largely lacking. Here, we used a sperm heteromorphic insect Ephestia kuehniella whose males produce two types of sperm, eupyrenes (fertile) and apyrenes (nonfertile), to test these postulations. We allowed focal males to detect chemical and acoustic but no tactile cues from rivals or additional mates both before and during mating and measured copulation duration and sperm allocation in successive copulations. We demonstrate that males transfer significantly more eupyrenes per mate in the presence of rivals and that the sperm allocation pattern persists in successive copulations under this condition. However, males do not adjust apyrene allocation in response to rivals probably because apyrenes play a relatively minor role in male reproductive success. Contrary to a previous study, focal males do not respond to additional mates most likely due to the lack of tactile cues in the present study. We reveal that sperm allocation is not a function of copulation duration in this insect for spermatophore formation and delivery occupy most of copulation duration and sperm transfer is complete near the end of copulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kambiz Esfandi
- School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand.,The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Xiong Z He
- School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Qiao Wang
- School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Msaad Guerfali M, Chevrier C. Determinant factors for sperm transfer and sperm storage within Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) and impact on Sterile Insect Technique. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH AND APPLIED SCIENCES 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/16878507.2020.1855901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
|
9
|
Shelly TE. Sexual Selection on Leks: A Fruit Fly Primer. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2018; 18:5020520. [PMID: 29850851 PMCID: PMC6007453 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iey048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Lek mating systems are relatively rare but occur in a diverse taxonomic array of animals, including birds, mammals, anurans, and insects. Such systems exhibit four features: 1) males provide no parental care and supply only gametes; 2) males are spatially aggregated at mating arenas (or leks); 3) males do not control access to resources critical to females; and 4) females are free to select mates at the arena. Among insects, fruit flies of the families Tephritidae and Drosophilidae display lek behavior that closely resembles the 'classic' lek mating systems of vertebrate species. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of empirical findings on lek-forming tephritid and drosophilid flies. The essay is organized around a series of 19 questions, the first six of which provide background information on fruit fly leks. These questions deal with the location, persistence, and size of leks as well as pheromonal attraction of females and the nature of male-male aggression. The remaining questions touch on broader issues that are common to the study of lekking species regardless of taxonomic affiliation. For example, these questions concern skewed mating distributions among males, male signals important in female choice, the importance of male aggression and signaling position in affecting male mating success, the possibility of male choice, costs to males associated with lek displays, and evidence of direct and indirect benefits to females resulting from mate selection etc. Reflecting data availability, emphasis is on precopulatory mate choice, sperm competition and female cryptic choice are briefly addressed.
Collapse
|
10
|
López-Muñoz L, López EF, Feliciano CA, Soto DN, Pérez-Staples D. Identification of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) Sperm From Females in Traps: The Importance of the Ventral Receptacle. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 111:491-494. [PMID: 29182772 DOI: 10.1093/jee/tox298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The monitoring of a pest population often relies on the identification of individuals from traps. For area-wide programs utilizing the sterile insect technique, the further identification of the mated status of females found in traps is of utmost importance. For the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), this is usually verified through the assessment of sperm in the spermathecae. However, this can be misleading for species where there are other sperm storage organs such as the ventral receptacle. Here, we studied the relative importance of sperm storage in the ventral receptacle compared to the spermathecae for females from 5 to 18 d of age. Furthermore, we studied how sperm can be identified in the ventral receptacle or spermathecae after females were recovered from traps. We found no effect of female age on likelihood of sperm storage. Sperm could be identified in both sperm storage organs at 7 or 14 d after females had been placed in traps. We found that the ventral receptacle is a more reliable indicator of female mated status. Thus, we propose that if no sperm are found in the spermathecae, program managers should revise the ventral receptacle before assuming that females are not mated. This test may also be relevant to other pest tephritids that store even more sperm in the ventral receptacle than C. capitata.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L López-Muñoz
- Programa Moscamed SAGARPA-SENASICA, Metapa de Domínguez, Chiapas, México
| | - E F López
- Programa Moscamed SAGARPA-SENASICA, Metapa de Domínguez, Chiapas, México
| | - C A Feliciano
- Programa Moscamed SAGARPA-SENASICA, Metapa de Domínguez, Chiapas, México
| | - D N Soto
- Programa Moscamed SAGARPA-SENASICA, Metapa de Domínguez, Chiapas, México
| | - D Pérez-Staples
- Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada (INBIOTECA), Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, México
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Abraham S, Lara-Pérez LA, Rodríguez C, Contreras-Navarro Y, Nuñez-Beverido N, Ovruski S, Pérez-Staples D. The male ejaculate as inhibitor of female remating in two tephritid flies. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2016; 88:40-47. [PMID: 26949132 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2016.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Revised: 02/28/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The inhibition of female receptivity after copulation is usually related to the quality of the first mating. Males are able to modulate female receptivity through various mechanisms. Among these is the transfer of the ejaculate composed mainly by sperm and accessory gland proteins (AGPs). Here we used the South American fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus (where AGP injections inhibit female receptivity) and the Mexican fruit fly Anastrepha ludens (where injection of AGPs failed to inhibit receptivity) as study organisms to test which mechanisms are used by males to prevent remating. In both species, neither the act of copulation without ejaculate transfer nor sperm stored inhibited female receptivity. Moreover, using multiply mated sterile and wild males in Mex flies we showed that the number of sperm stored by females varied according to male fertility status and number of previous matings, while female remating did not. We suggest female receptivity in both flies is inhibited by the mechanical and/or physiological effect of the full ejaculate. This finding brings us closer to understanding the mechanisms through which female receptivity can be modulated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Solana Abraham
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Ecoetológicas de Moscas de la Fruta y sus Enemigos Naturales (LIEMEN), PROIMI-Biotecnología CONICET, Tucumán, Argentina; INBIOTECA, Universidad Veracruzana, Av. de las Culturas Veracruzanas 101, Col. E. Zapata, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Luis A Lara-Pérez
- INBIOTECA, Universidad Veracruzana, Av. de las Culturas Veracruzanas 101, Col. E. Zapata, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Christian Rodríguez
- Instituto de Ecología A.C., Antigua Carretera a Coatepec, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | | | | | - Sergio Ovruski
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Ecoetológicas de Moscas de la Fruta y sus Enemigos Naturales (LIEMEN), PROIMI-Biotecnología CONICET, Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Diana Pérez-Staples
- INBIOTECA, Universidad Veracruzana, Av. de las Culturas Veracruzanas 101, Col. E. Zapata, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Reinhold K, Engqvist L, Consul A, Ramm SA. Male birch catkin bugs vary copula duration to invest more in matings with novel females. Anim Behav 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
13
|
|
14
|
Abraham S, Vera MT, Pérez-Staples D. Current Sperm Competition Determines Sperm Allocation in a Tephritid Fruit Fly. Ethology 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Solana Abraham
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Ecoetológicas de Moscas de la Fruta y sus Enemigos Naturales (LIEMEN); PROIMI; Tucumán Argentina
- CONICET; Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - M. Teresa Vera
- CONICET; Buenos Aires Argentina
- Cátedra de Terapéutica Vegetal; Departamento de Sanidad Vegetal de la Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia de la UNT; Tucumán Argentina
| | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Abraham S, Nuñez-Beverido N, Contreras-Navarro Y, Pérez-Staples D. Female receptivity in Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae) is not modulated by male accessory gland products. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2014; 70:41-48. [PMID: 25205478 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2014.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Revised: 08/29/2014] [Accepted: 09/01/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
In numerous insects, accessory gland products (AGPs) transferred from males to females during mating are responsible for female sexual inhibition, but these products can be affected by male condition. Here, we investigated the effect of AGPs on female receptivity of the Mexican fruit fly Anastrepha ludens (Loew), and the effect of male and female strain, male irradiation, AGP dose and sexual activity period on the effectiveness of these AGPs in inhibiting female remating. Injections of aqueous extracts of male accessory glands into the abdomen of females did not reduce their receptivity either at 0.2 or 0.8 male equivalent. Females injected with AGPs behaved like virgin females and not as mated females. Neither male origin, female origin (wild versus mass-reared), nor male irradiation (sterile versus fertile males) had an effect in inhibiting female remating. Also, injections of glands obtained during the sexual calling period of males, or obtained during the morning when males are not sexually active had no effect on female remating behavior. Mated mass-reared females were more likely to remate than wild females. We conclude that inhibition of female sexual receptivity of A. ludens is mediated by factors other than AGPs, such as the number of sperm stored by females, the stimulus of copulation per se or more probably, mediated by a combination of factors. More research is needed to elucidate the role of AGPs in this species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Solana Abraham
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Ecoetológicas de Moscas de la Fruta y sus Enemigos Naturales (LIEMEN), PROIMI, Tucumán, Argentina; CONICET, Argentina.
| | | | - Yair Contreras-Navarro
- INBIOTECA, Universidad Veracruzana, Av. de las Culturas Veracruzanas 101, Col. E. Zapata, Xalapa, Veracruz Cp. 91090, Mexico
| | - Diana Pérez-Staples
- INBIOTECA, Universidad Veracruzana, Av. de las Culturas Veracruzanas 101, Col. E. Zapata, Xalapa, Veracruz Cp. 91090, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|