Importance of multiple mating to female reproductive output in Diaphorina citri

Authors: Wenninger, Erik; Hall, David

Submitted to: Physiological Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/28/2008
Publication Date: 10/1/2008
Citation: Wenninger, E.J., Hall, D.G. 2008. Importance of multiple mating to female reproductive output in Diaphorina citri. Physiological Entomology. 33:316-321.

Interpretive Summary: We conducted studies to determine how multiple mating in females of the Asian citrus psyllid affected reproductive output. Females laid more eggs per day when grouped with multiple males for a short duration or single males for a long duration. For short duration treatments, females showed a decline in number of eggs laid beginning about 10 days after mating, with multiply mated females tending to show a more gradual decline. Mortality was high for females grouped with three males for two weeks, and egg laying increased dramatically in the days following removal of males. When females were paired with a male for 24 hours and re-paired for 24 hours after nine days, the number of eggs laid remained high throughout our 18-19 day observation period. Egg fertility varied over time in a manner that was similar among treatments. Here we show that in the Asian citrus psyllid, females require multiple matings over time to achieve high reproductive output, but oviposition is constrained by the presence of males.

Technical Abstract: We evaluate the importance of multiple mating to female reproductive output in Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) by grouping individual females with one or three males for 24 h (short duration) or two weeks (long duration) and examining oviposition over 18-19 days. For the short duration treatments, females lay more eggs per day when grouped with multiple males, whereas females in the long duration treatments lay more eggs when paired with one male. When held for 24 h with one or three males, females show a decline in fecundity beginning ca. ten days and 15 days after mating, respectively. Total fecundity is relatively high for females paired with one male for two weeks, but fecundity is low and mortality high when females are held with three males for two weeks. In treatments in which females are held with males for two weeks, oviposition increases dramatically in the days following removal of males. For females paired with a male for 24 h and re-paired for 24 h after nine days, fecundity remains high throughout our 18-19 day observation period. Egg fertility does not differ among treatments, but varies over time in a manner that is similar among treatments. Here we show that in D. citri, females require multiple matings over time to achieve high reproductive output, but oviposition is constrained by the presence of males.