Journal of Economic Entomology (1997) 90, 945-954

Robert L. Mangan (1997)
Effects of strain and access to males on female longevity, lifetime oviposition rate, and egg fertility of the Mexican fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Journal of Economic Entomology 90 (4), 945-954
Abstract: The effect of mating frequency on fertility and fecundity over the lifetime of an insect is a major factor influencing reproductive behavior. In this study I tested the relationship between oviposition egg fertility, and longevity of individual-females under conditions of single mating or multiple mating opportunities. Percentage of eggs that were fertile decreased after ~3 wk of egg production for single mated females of old lines. New lines either had decreased egg fertility or decreased oviposition when no additional males were available. Repeated exposure to males decreased female longevity in all tests, effects of access to males on oviposition rates varied considerably among females. Profiles of egg production rates of the groups over the adult lifespan were not consistent for the 2 sets of tests for either old or new strains. This study indicated that several factors such as degree of adaptation to rearing conditions and access to males can affect female longevity, total egg production, and fertility. These effects, however, also appear to be influenced by environmental conditions and may vary considerably between experiments.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Robert L. Mangan

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Anastrepha ludens