Journal of Pest Science (2018) 91, 1073-1080

Christos G. Athanassiou, Nickolas G. Kavallieratos, Giovanni Benelli and Raul Narciso C. Guedes (2018)
Male multiple matings and reproductive success in commodity-adapted strains of Sitophilus oryzae
Journal of Pest Science 91 (3), 1073-1080
Abstract: Multiple matings occur in many species of stored-grain insect pests, such as the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (L.), with both female and male mating more than once and with more than one partner. Multiple female mating in S. oryzae increased lifetime fecundity by extending the period of time progeny were produced, but consequences of multiple male mating in S. oryzae were not yet studied although it is likely to increase male fitness by increasing offspring production. Here, the effects of polygynous mating on male mating behavior, success, and fitness were assessed in two strains of S. oryzae, one adapted to barley and another to wheat. Two insect strains were considered because they may differ in response depending on the host grain, which present distinct nutritional value to the insects. Mating by pairs formed between the two strains did not impact mating success, but wheat-adapted females exhibited longer mating duration, which was positively correlated with progeny production. Wheat-adapted males exhibited higher fertility than barley-adapted males. When male multiple matings were considered in successive polygynous matings, late matings led to lower non-cumulative values of progeny production, but higher cumulative performance, and wheat-adapted S. oryzae always performed better. Thus, male fitness and grain losses in wheat are higher than in barley, even when S. oryzae was adapted to the latter.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Nickolas G. Kavallieratos, Giovanni Benelli, Raul Narciso C. Guedes

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Sitophilus oryzae