Search

Start Over Subject mate recognition

1. Defence, oviposition and sex: semiochemical parsimony in two species of ladybird beetles (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae)? A short review

Creator:
Hemptinne, Jean-Louis and Dixon, F. G.
Type:
article, model:article, and TEXT
Subject:
semiochemical parsimony, alkanes, oviposition deterring pheromone, mate recognition, defensive allomone, Coccinellidae, Adalia bipunctata, and Coccinella septempunctata
Language:
English
Description:
Certain alkanes or their mixture present on the surface of ladybird elytra is important in the recognition of potential mates. Similar chemicals are present in the tracks of larvae, which deter conspecific female ladybirds from laying eggs in aphid colonies already being attacked by larvae. Finally, the shell of ladybird eggs is covered with alkanes that deter other species of ladybirds from eating the eggs. In each case the alkanes are similar although they fulfil different functions. There are, therefore, indications that ladybirds exploit their natural product with parsimonious versatility.
Rights:
http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ and policy:public

2. The reproductive behaviour of an aphidophagous ladybeetle, Coccinella septempunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Creator:
OMKAR and Srivastava, Shefali
Type:
article, model:article, and TEXT
Subject:
Coccinellids, Coccinella septempunctata, reproductive behaviour, courtship and mating, mating duration, and mate recognition
Language:
English
Description:
The reproductive behaviour of a ladybeetle, Coccinella septempunctata was studied in detail. Males became sexually mature within 8.8 ± 0.3 days at 27°C, while females took 11.2 ± 0.4 days. Males exhibited courtship display in five steps: approach, watch, examine, mount and copulatory attempt. A prominent rejection display was shown by certain females who had not matured sexually, had recently mated or were about to oviposit. Males appeared to recognize females through chemical and some visual cues, such as size and body shape, with the chemical cues possibly playing a more significant role. Multiple matings took place within the same day. There was a gradual decrease with time in reproductive parametres, such as the duration of copulation, the number of copulatory bouts and the latent period from first to subsequent matings on the same day. The interval between mating bouts slightly increased from first to subsequent matings. The sexual status of males and females affected the duration of copulation, which was greatest in the case of unmated males and virgin females. Multiple matings increased the oviposition period, fecundity and percent hatching of eggs.
Rights:
http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ and policy:public