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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Insect Genetics and Biochemistry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #108233
Title: EFFECT OF DIET AND MATING ON OVIPOSITION IN THE TWOSPOTTED STINK BUG, PERILLUS BIOCULATUS (F) (HETEROPTERA: PENTATOMIDAE)

Author
item Adams, Terrance

Submitted to: Annals of the Entomological Society of America
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/27/2000
Publication Date: 11/1/2000
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: In order for Perillus bioculatus females to lay eggs, mature eggs must be present in the ovaries and the bugs must be able to lay them. Both diet, mating status, and female age effected the number of eggs laid. Bugs given the artificial diet oviposited fewer eggs than the controls. Multiple matings were required for females to lay a full compliment of eggs. Some factor, a result of mating, stimulates oviposition. Females given the artificial diet oviposited but produced fewer eggs. Thus, diet impacts egg production and not the ability to lay eggs. As females age fewer eggs are laid and this is a result of developing fewer mature eggs. Higher rates of oviposition occur during the first week after egg laying starts. This has significance to insectary managers wishing to maximize production and suggests that egging colonies should not be held longer than a week after oviposition starts.

Technical Abstract: First matings of Perillus bioculatus lasted an average of 357 min and females remated during their lifetimes with more rematings being observed in pairs given the artificial diet than in prey-fed pairs. Mating and an adequate diet are prerequisites for laying a full compliment of eggs in Perillus bioculatus. Virgins laid an average of 22 eggs compared with 138 in the multiply mated controls and 84 in singly mated females. Multiply mated females given an artificial diet only laid 42 eggs. Oviposition rates were calculated over five-d periods for each female and presented as eggs/ovariole/d (EOD). In all experimental groups the rates of egg laying decreased as the females aged approaching 0.07 EOD by 27.5 d after the start of oviposition. Egg laying depends on two factors: 1). Availability of mature ovarian follicles in the ovariole and 2). mating. Unmated females develop mature ovarian follicles, but do not oviposit many of them. Mated females given the artificial diet develop fewer mature ovarian follicles, but oviposit them.