Long‐term study of female multiple mating indicates direct benefits in Tribolium castaneum

• DOI: 10.1111/eea.12906
• Publication Date: 2020-05-06T05:27:50Z
• Authors: Aditi Pai; Guiyun Yan
• Keywords: Red flour beetle; Sterile Insect Technique

Abstract Polyandry or female mating with several different partners in a single fertile period is widespread phenomenon possibly involving both costs and benefits. This study tested whether remating after weeks of initial copulation (periodic multiple mating) has fitness consequences for females red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), cosmopolitan storage pest. We hypothesize that benefit from higher frequency more mates through sperm replenishment and/or compatible sperm. Thus, offspring production survivorship were examined mated to males the same male repeatedly at variable intervals (every 2 weeks, 1, 3, 5 months). Our results suggest remating, months copulation, confers direct benefits females, likely by providing additional an alternative mechanism such as better ability fresh fertilize eggs, stimulation oviposition itself, hydration ejaculate. did not detect any mating.