FACTORS AFFECTING FEMALE REMATING FREQUENCY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN FRUIT FLY (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE)

• Published in: The Florida entomologist 2002-03, Vol.85 (1), p.156-164
• Main Authors: Vera, M. T, Wood, R. J, Cladera, J. L, Gilburn, A. S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biology; Ceratitis capitata; compatibility; copulation; crowding; duration; Entomology; females; Fruit flies; Hybridity; hybrids; Insect reproduction; laboratory strains; Logistic regression; Male fertility; Mating behavior; mating duration; mating frequency; mating preferences; medfly; PROCEEDINGS OF AN FAO/IAEA RESEARCH COORDINATION PROJECT ON MEDFLY MATING; remating behavior; Spermatozoa; strain differences; strains; wild strains
• ISSN: 0015-4040; 1938-5102
• DOI: 10.1653/0015-4040(2002)085[0156:FAFRFI]2.0.CO;2

Mating and remating of two laboratory strains (Petapa and Guate), one wild population (Antigua) of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) and one of the hybrids between them were studied under laboratory conditions. No evidence of sexual isolation at first mating was found among them. Remating frequency was higher under crowded conditions for the two laboratory strains. The probability of Petapa females remating depended more on the origin of the male and was negatively associated with the duration of the first mating, but these variables had no effect on remating tendency of Guate females. Matings by Petapa males were significantly less prolonged than those of Guate or hybrid males. With respect to remating, Petapa non-virgin females preferred Petapa to Guate males.