Copulatory courtship, body temperature and infection in Tenebrio molitor

Ectothermic animals can raise their body temperature under varying circumstances. Two such situations occur during sexual activity (as metabolic rate rises during copulatory movements) and during infection (to control pathogens more effectively). We have investigated these two situations using Teneb...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2023-09, Vol.18 (9), p.e0291384
Main Authors: Cargnelutti, Franco, Castillo-Pérez, Ulises, Reyes-Ramírez, Alicia, Rocha-Ortega, Maya, Córdoba-Aguilar, Alex
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Animal reproduction
Biology and Life Sciences
Body temperature
Cameras
Copulation
Courtship
Engineering and Technology
Females
Fungi
Health aspects
Immune response
Infection
Males
Metabolic rate
Pheromones
Social Sciences
Tenebrio molitor
Thermal properties
Worms
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Summary:Ectothermic animals can raise their body temperature under varying circumstances. Two such situations occur during sexual activity (as metabolic rate rises during copulatory movements) and during infection (to control pathogens more effectively). We have investigated these two situations using Tenebrio molitor males. We recorded the copulatory courtship behavior of sick (= infected with Metharizium robertsii fungus) vs healthy males and its link with body temperature. We predicted a positive relation between copulatory courtship (measured as antennal and leg contact behavior) and body temperature, especially in sick males. We found that the intensity of contacts correlated with increased body temperature in sick males. Previous studies in this species indicated that partner females laid fewer eggs after mating with sick males above a certain male body temperature threshold. Thus, our present findings suggest that females may detect male infection via intensity of antennal-mediated courtship, body temperature or their combination. If this is the case, females may assess male cues directly related to health status such as body temperature.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0291384