Population Ecology (2011) 53, 111-117

Norikuni Kumano, Takashi Kuriwada, Keiko Shiromoto, Dai Haraguchi and Tsuguo Kohama (2011)
Intensive resistance by females before copulation induces insemination failure in the West Indian sweet potato weevil Euscepes postfasciatus
Population Ecology 53 (1), 111-117
Abstract: Persistent mating attempts by males (sexual harassment) are frequently observed among animals. For females, resisting persistent males can be costly because vigorous resistance increases both energy expenditure and the possibility of injury. Although one tactic for coping with male harassment is to cease resistance and mate with the persistent partner, the females of several species are able to prevent the fertilization of their egg(s) despite copulation. In this study, we used three different sex ratios to investigate whether a male's mating persistence affects his mating success in the West Indian sweet potato weevil Euscepes postfasciatus, in which males mount females both before and after copulation. Consistent with our predictions, we found that female weevils resist and manipulate sperm transfer either before or during copulation according to their preferences. Female weevils were able to reject the sperm of persistent males despite having copulated with them. However, neither copulation and/or post-copulatory mounting affected insemination success. We speculate that the intensive resistance shown by females before copulation may induce mechanical sterility in E. postfasciatus.
(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): Norikuni Kumano, Takashi Kuriwada

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.
	Euscepes postfasciatus