Intensive resistance by females before copulation induces insemination failure in the West Indian sweet potato weevil <Emphasis Type="Italic">Euscepes postfasciatus</Emphasis> |
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Authors: | Norikuni Kumano Takashi Kuriwada Keiko Shiromoto Dai Haraguchi Tsuguo Kohama |
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Institution: | (1) Okinawa Prefectural Plant Protection Center, Naha Okinawa, 902-0072, Japan;(2) Ryukyu Sankei Co. Ltd, Naha Okinawa, 902-0072, Japan;(3) Okinawa Prefectural Agricultural Research Center, Itoman Okinawa, 901-0336, Japan |
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Abstract: | Persistent mating attempts by males (sexual harassment) are frequently observed among animals. For females, resisting persistent
males can be costly because vigorous resistance increases both energy expenditure and the possibility of injury. Although
one tactic for coping with male harassment is to cease resistance and mate with the persistent partner, the females of several
species are able to prevent the fertilization of their egg(s) despite copulation. In this study, we used three different sex
ratios to investigate whether a male’s mating persistence affects his mating success in the West Indian sweet potato weevil
Euscepes postfasciatus, in which males mount females both before and after copulation. Consistent with our predictions, we found that female weevils
resist and manipulate sperm transfer either before or during copulation according to their preferences. Female weevils were
able to reject the sperm of persistent males despite having copulated with them. However, neither copulation and/or post-copulatory
mounting affected insemination success. We speculate that the intensive resistance shown by females before copulation may
induce mechanical sterility in E. postfasciatus. |
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Keywords: | Female resistance Mechanical sterility Mounting Sexual harassment |
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