Female bushcrickets mated with parasitized males show rapid remating and reduced fecundity (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae: Poecilimon mariannae)

Following mating, female bushcrickets undergo a refractory period during which they are sexually unreceptive. The length of the refractory period correlates with the size of the spermatophylax. However, the size of the nuptial gift of acoustically signalling bushcrickets is often reduced as a result...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inDie Naturwissenschaften Vol. 87; no. 9; pp. 404 - 407
Main Authors Lehmann, G. U. C, Lehmann, A. W
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Germany Springer-Verlag 01.09.2000
Subjects
Acoustic Stimulation
Animals
Diptera
eggs
fecundity
Female
females
Fertility - physiology
Gryllidae - parasitology
Gryllidae - physiology
Larva
Male
male effect
males
Oviposition
parasitism
parasitoids
Phaneropteridae
Poecilimon
Poecilimon mariannae
Reproduction - physiology
Sexual Behavior, Animal
Signal Transduction
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Summary:Following mating, female bushcrickets undergo a refractory period during which they are sexually unreceptive. The length of the refractory period correlates with the size of the spermatophylax. However, the size of the nuptial gift of acoustically signalling bushcrickets is often reduced as a result of infections by parasitoid flies. We examined the effect of male parasitoid infection on the induction of the refractory period and fecundity of females. We found a drastically reduced refractory period in females if the first mating partner was infected. During this shortened period fewer eggs were deposited, as an effect of the shorter refractory period, whereas the daily egg-laying rate remained the same regardless of whether the females were mated with a parasitized or an unparasitized male.
Bibliography:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s001140050750
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ISSN:0028-1042
1432-1904
DOI:10.1007/s001140050750