Prolonged copulation and spermatophore size ejaculated in the sulfur butterfly,Colias erate (lepidoptera: pieridae) under selective harassments of mated pairs by conspecific lone males |
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Authors: | Mamoru Watanabe Yasuyuki Nakanishi Minetaka Bon’no |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Mie University, 514 Tsu, Mie, Japan |
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Abstract: | Uninterrupted copula durations between virgin male and virgin female in the sulfur butterflyColias erate successfully lasted about 45 min in the greenhouse. Without harassment, the copula duration of virgin females with wild young
males was similar to that in the greenhouse. The male structured a spermatophore about 40 min after copula initiation. Young
males ejaculated bigger spermatophores than old males, while age did not influence copula duration. The mating behaviors of
the wild males and the tethered females were observed and the copula duration was recorded. All copulating pairs were harassed
by single males in the field, and the copula duration was increased, though there was no difference in spermatophore size.
Single males harassed pairs with old males significantly longer duration than pairs with young males. Severe harassment elicited
no particular response by the pairs. There was a successful mating takeover by a single male. Females tended to be more likely
to re-mate when they had fewer spermatophores in the bursa copulatrix. The females that accepted re-mating retained smaller
ejaculates in the bursa copulatrix than those that refused re-mating. Lone males seemed to be able to discriminate old and
young males in copula. The harassment of pair with old males might be advantageous for single males to increase mating success. |
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