Receptivity of female remating and sperm number in the sperm storage organ in the bean bug,Riptortus clavatus (Heteroptera: Alydidae) |
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Authors: | Tamito Sakurai |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratory of Applied Entomology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, 464-8601 Nagoya, Japan;(2) Present address: Laboratory of Biological Communication, Research Institute for Bioresources, Okayama University, 710-0046 Kurashiki, Japan |
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Abstract: | This study examines the relationship between the number of sperm in the seminal receptacle (spermatheca) and the receptivity
of female remating in the bean bugRiptortus clavatus Thunberg. On the 21 st day after the first mating when receptivity to remating was > 70%, females receptive to remating had
significantly fewer sperm ( < 40 on average) in the spermathecae than females reluctant to do (about 150 on average). However,
averages of the number of eggs laid by receptive and reluctant females within 21 days were almost same. The proportion of
fertilized eggs for receptive females at 15–21 days after copulation was significantly lower than that for reluctant females.
Spermatozoa transferred from a male to a female’s spermatheca were detected 5 min after copulation and then increased continuously
to about 500 with the first hour. When copulation durations were manipulated artificially, the shorter the copulation period
(=females had less sperm in their spermathecae), the higher the remating rate became. Females may perceive the number of sperm
in their seminal receptacles and then determine whether they copulate or not. These results support the hypothesis that females
mate multiply in order to replenish inadequate sperm supplies to fertilize all eggs produced. |
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Keywords: | female remating fertilization Riptortus clavatus sperm number spermatheca |
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