Age-based mate choice improves reproductive performance and offspring attributes in parthenium beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

作者：Pandey Pooja; Omkar^*

来源：The Canadian Entomologist, 2013, 145(3): 292-301.

DOI：10.4039/tce.2012.98

The present study was designed to investigate the influence of mate choice in terms of age on reproductive performance and offspring attributes of parthenium beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Age-based mate choice was most evident in the middle-aged adults. Results revealed that middle-aged males and females were significantly preferred as mates by their middle-aged counterparts. Younger and older females did not show any preference for males of any age group. On the other hand, younger males showed a bias against old females, while older ones did not show any age-based preference for mates. Both fecundity and percent egg viability were significantly influenced by female and male age, respectively. Fecundity was highest in middle-aged females followed by young- and old-aged ones, with similar trend observed in relation to male age effects on egg viability. The development and survival of immature stages borne out of mate choice decisions of adults was influenced by mother's age. Offspring of middle-aged females developed fastest and survived longer than those of younger and older ones.

• 出版日期2013-6